CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Inuyasha's Double... Inuyasha's Battle

The hanyou awoke in a daze inside of a tiny hut. There was a shadow sitting still beside him. He could smell blood. The fragerance was all too familiar. As he attempted to prop himself on his shoulders he felt the jolt of pain escape his side and engulf his very being in an unspeakable hurt. Trying hard not to scream in pain, Inuyasha clenched his fists and tried once more to get up. A gentle hand fell on his midsection which was covered with bandages. He understood immidiately and let himself fall back down. His strength hadn't returned yet so he needed to rest. With one touch Kagome let him know this. He felt more comfortable knowing that Kagome was there with him, but he despised the smell that mixed in with the smell of blood....... her tears.

Kagome watched as the hanyou tried to pick himself up with all of his remaining strength. She made an effort to restrain him, but with a simple touch he was back down and unconsious again. The raven haired girl stared at her most trusted companion as he struggled with the poison that had been forced into his body with Sango's blood covered sword. She stared at his shoulder..... and cried.

'It's all my fault. If I'd had better aim this wouldn't have happened. I'm sorry Inuyasha.... looks like I only got in the way. Please forgive me......'

Not being able to resist anymore Kagome let her tears rain upon Inuyasha's injured body. It was all her fault ans she knew it. If only she was better.... if only she hadn't... if only....

"Ka....gome...."

Her eyes opened in a flash as his voice penetrated every inch of her being. It was shrouded in pain and agony. A pain that she had given him.

"..... please......."

She looked down at his half open eyes as he fought with all his strength to get these words out of his mouth. The golden orbs hidden behind the slits of his eyelids were dull and weak.

"......don't........ cry."

This wasn't going to make her stop. Kagome made a fruitless struggle to stop crying, but found that Inuyasha's words had only made things worse. She had to leave. After putting a wet cloth Kagome placed her hands on the ground to raise herself. She was about to pick herself up when a clawed hand softly rested itself on hers.

"Stay...."

With every ounce of her strength Kagome fought off the tears that welled up in her eyes. She wanted so much to throw herself on him and plead for forgiveness, but his wound was refusing to close and it would only hurt him. Kagome froze and then sat back down. She leaned over to him and whispered into his droopy ears.

"I'm not going anywhere baka, but please get some sleep.... you need it." The tiniest hint of a smile crossed the hanyou's face and in that same instant he passed out. Kagome stared down at him with a look of worry on her face.

'What is this poison? Inuyasha's supposed to have incredible healing powers now. Why isn't this wound healing? Even before the incident with Naraku it wouldn't take that long for Inuyasha to heal from a cut like this.'

The dog demon remained on the outskirts of the camp where Inuyasha and his friends were staying. He sat on a tree branch staring intently at the hut where the hanyou was resting. His blue eyes seemed to slice right through the thin walls and right through his enemy. Inuyasha..... this name did not belong to that hanyou. It belonged to him. Inu knew that he was nothing more than a re-creation of Inuyasha in every way. That Naraku had taken what is essentially the half demon's strength, energy, and pride and had put it in a demon of his own. Inu was nothing more than an imposter, but that was what drove him. He wanted the name to his own. Inu knew that after he killed Inuyasha he could take his power and then become the dog demon himself. He would be second to no one.

"I will kill you Inuyasha... rest assured."

It was only a matter of time before the hanyou would be able to walk again. Inu intended to stay close to the camp so that as soon as Inuyasha was ready to fight he could be found easily. His blood boiled as he rembered the words that Naraku had spoken to him.

"Only when he is dead can you truely be alive. In the form that you are in right now you do not feel happiness, pain, pleasure, or sadness. Your form is a giant mass of hatred for my enemy. You are no more than a copy of him. A duplicate. If you wish to become your own demon, killhim and gain his powers as well as his body. The poison within your body is more potent than even my own. Cut his flesh open and use your blood as a weapon. Kill him........ then and only then will your life begin."

Inu had these departing words branded into his memory. He was nothing more than a copy of that disgusting hanyou. He was a shadow. Staring at his claws, Inu contemplatged on how he would kill this trash. Would he do it now or wait for a fair fight. It seemed almost vile to do it now, but what did he care. This hanyou didn't deserve to live. He turned his head and looked down at what was supposedto be the hut only what met his gaze was a pair of golden orbs.

Inuyasha had been about to rest some more when he felt the tremendous amount of youki. That demon had followed them. With a swift movement he was on his feet and trying to step out the door. Kagome turned to restrain him but was only able to catch a glimpse of his silver hair flutter out the doorway.

Outside Inuyasha folded over in pain as the poison rushed through his body. His body seared with an unspeakable agony as he fought to pick himself back up. The demon was close by and it was waiting for him. He pressed his nose to the sky and sniffed steadily.

'That way.'

In a tree the demon was sitting admiring his own claws. Inuyasha smiled to himself as he watched the arrogant demon stare into his own hand without the slightet idea that his foe wasbut a few branches away from him. When the demon finally came out of it's trance it found the hanyou sitting no more than an arm's reach away.

"Oy, let's finish this."

Inu's face lit up into a smile as he saw his enemy perched on a branch below him.

"Inuyasha. I have no desire to fight you when you are injured. I want to destroy you when you are at your best. Only then can I prove that I am better."

"What?"

Inu smiled again, this time at his opponent's stupidity. "Have you not noticed it yet Inuyasha? I am your equal in every way. Naraku made me to be exactly like you. He even named me "Inu" and gave me this sword." Inu raised Naraken up towards his shoulders. The blade was shining in the evening sky. A large amount of youki escaped from the edges as Inu swung it down and pointed it at the ground. In response Inuyasha put his right hand on tessaiga's hilt, but cringed in pain as the poison yet again flowed through him. Inu smiled.

'Naraku you clever bastard. This poison must really be getting to him. But it won't kill him. This hanyou is much too stubborn to die from poison...... he'll be ready to fight soon.'

"You have no chance right now hanyou, but know this: I only wish to fight you. I don't really care to kill any of your friends. When we fight we shall be alone." With that Inu looked down beyond Inuyasha's shoulder and Inuyasha turned around. There, at the entrance of the hut was Kagome holding her bow, Miroku graspingthe beads around his hands, Sango gripping her katana, and Shippou on top of the transformed Kirara..... all ready to fight. The hanyou turned back to find nothing on the branch that Inu had been on a while ago.

'For once an enemy understands.' Inuyasha thought as he looked down at his friends, 'I don't want to involve them either.'