Author's Note: Sorry that I had not updated yesterday like I said I would in my profile! But when I clicked on the Log In thing to go there, it said HTTP Server Error 503 Two possible reasons: 1) invalid url 2) servers overloaded or some stupid shit like that. Damn, I hate it when that happens; cause then I can't make you all happy by updating on time! But hey, a day late isn't that big of a deal now is it? Nope, thank you!
Oh! And please read my profile! At the top, it has info on my new story that will be here soon! Please read and review! Enjoy!
lady kjerston of the western: Thank you very much! lol, stalker music. Man, I laughed so hard when you attacked the screen and yet I wouldn't die! And yeah, lol I just assumed that the kiddies were suppose to be human like Inu too since they're half demon like him. Evilness is what I'm good at! I'm sure you've already noticed! Thanks for your review!
Suaru: Ha! Yeah I know, don't you hate me? And yeah! That's what I told Inuyasha, not to drop his weapon, but he didn't listen to me! lol, thanks for your review!
Miru Amai: Holy crap if you did that in the middle of the fight, Inuyahsa would be like, "Hey what the hell Miru! I'm fighting Taisuke not you!" lol, I can imagine it! Thanks for your review!
Inuyasha-luver235: Thank you thank you thank you! I jut love reading your reviews Mandi! lol, I got the names like this! I just went to Google dot com and typed in something like "Japanese male and female names" than BAM! They give you sites to go and find the names to pick! And I even made up a couple of the names, heehee. Yeah, Inu can't top being human in the worst times can he? Oh well, it makes it more exciting for us! Thanks for your review!
SerenaClearwater: LOL, yes I agree with you there! And it's ok, everyone's creativeness runs out once in a while. Thanks for your compliments! Believe or not, I'm till trying to make the characters in character as I type, sometimes I just can't think of anything and end up just sitting here for a long time, trying to come up with new things and make the characters play the part correctly. I dunno, it's kinda confusing hehe. Thanks for your review!
> > >Sorry for not answering all of your review you guys, but I just want to get this chapter out and make you all happy! My A/N explains why! Please read and review!.. Did I say that already? Hmmm, oh well! > > >
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Beast of Burden Returns
Kagome sucked in a sharp breath. She could feel every ounce of pure demonic power this man apprehended. No, was it possible he was even more powerful now, standing here just before her, more than Naraku truthfully ever was?
Kagome felt her heart plummeting, and her head feel light in fear of this man before her and Miroku. 'Why do I feel so weak? Am I really that scared of him?'
Inuyasha tried his best to stand up quickly, "K-Kagome, get away from here, I'll beat him on my own, don't worry." He stood up entirely now, not even bothering to find his sword, knowing it'd be of no use to him as of yet. And besides, that wasn't the main issue as of now; he had to save his family and friends.
Inuyasha cursed under his breath, realization of time coming to his thoughts. The hours of darkness had just arrived; he wouldn't be demon anytime soon.
Kagome didn't dare glance back up the mountain to see if her kids were there. She knew they'd still be in the cave, but if she did look up there by any means, Taisuke would notice it, and who knows what the hell he would do then.
"No Inuyaha. Miroku and I are here to help. We're all in this together." She got her bow and an arrow ready. Miroku didn't speak, only gripped his staff and listened to his friends speak so amorously to one another. Miroku felt so sorry for Inuyasha, the hanyou had to try and protect Kagome while fighting this demon off, and in human form nonetheless. But the monk couldn't help feeling now more than glad that Sango was no where near this dreadful place.
Taisuke lowered his sword, "Why must you humans constantly speak?" He murmured and turned toward Kagome and Miroku. The two stiffened.
"Your fight is with me Taisuke." Inuyasha said with a deadly glare.
Taisuke turned his head slightly to look at him, "Is that so?" He turned around fully to face Inuyasha.
The hanyou visibly winced, was it just him, or did Taisuke just become a little bit stronger. There was something about his confident stance that made Inuyasha feel so weak in comparison. Well, first of all, this guy was twice Inuyahsa's size, and not to mention his sword was also the same in contrast to Tetsusaiga.
Inuyaha scoffed, "Keh, yeah it's so. What the hell did you think I was doing? Lying?" He was so pissed off right now, he couldn't remember the last time he had been as mad as he was right now… Well, he probably could, but he didn't' want to think of it right now.
Taisuke shrugged and raised his sword that was surrounded by a growing evil aura, "Very well then." He said and was about to bring his mighty weapon down to unleash a powerful energy blast, but was stopped by an arrow that had hit it dead on. The large sword was gleaming from the dark pink electrical lights surrounding it. The arrow fell to the ground, but its effect was still on the sword and even grew.
Taisuke felt the shock from the power of the arrow and dropped his sword.
He narrowed his onyx eyes and turned his head around rapidly to look for the source that had done this to his preferred weapon.
He only saw Kagome standing there, still holding her bow up in its place before her when she released the arrow. Inuyasha looked at her; she looked so strong to him at the moment, stronger than he was right now possibly. Inuyasha's eyes softened for a second; looking into hers that were of nothing but pure determination to save the man she loved more than herself.
But then realizing that Taisuke was still here and now looking at Kagome, Inuyasha took much caution and tried to lead the demon's gaze from her as much as possible, "Hey! Don't turn away from me! Are—" He was interrupted when Taisuke bent down to pick up his sword again as the power faded. When he laid his hand on it though, it shocked him, causing a sweltering burn on his palm. He neither flinched nor grimaced, but looked back at Kagome.
He suddenly appeared right in front of Kagome and Miroku, his glare remaining as it was, "You wench, you've weakened my sword and now it rejects me." He said in a low and treacherous voice as he approached her.
Miroku jumped in front of Kagome and swung his staff toward Taisuke. Right when the forceful staff was about to make contact with his Taisuke's skull, he caught it in between his forefinger and middle finger, while Miroku was using all his strength just make sure his hold on the staff with both hands didn't push him backward. "Foolish." Was all Taisuke muttered before shoving the staff to Miroku and at the same time, doing an uppercut, sending Miroku up in the air.
Kagome looked up, "Miroku!"
Inuyahsa ran towards Taisuke, "Stop!"
Miroku started falling back down, now unconscious from the blow to this head from the uppercut, and fell right into the hands of Taisuke. He gripped the monk's robes with only one hand now and held him high off the ground between him and the miko.
Kagome got another arrow ready, "Put him down!" She was about to fire it, but suddenly Taisuke held Miroku in front of him, as a shield.
Kagome instantly froze and slowly lowered her weapon slightly in shock; she made a sad and scared expression, "You… you monster. How dare you do that?" She whispered and looked at him now in raging disgust. "You know, that's something Naraku would do. In fact, he's done it before. You're a coward, just like he was." She spat with without a trace of fear in her voice.
Inuyasha stopped, now noticing the similarities between the brothers.
Taisuke parted his lips somewhat in surprise, not believing the words that he was hearing. "You bitch; I'm nothing like that pathetic whelp!" He shouted and tossed Miroku aside like a big bag of potatoes, now closing the gap between Kagome and himself.
Inuyasha started running over again, "Get away from her!"
Taisuke turned to him partly and shot out a gust of wind in his direction. Inuyasha flew back quite a ways and was practically back where he was before, if not farther.
Taisuke turned to look back at Kagome, who had dropped her weapon, like an idiot.
He grabbed her around the neck and pushed her up against the rock wall that was behind her, "You take that back right now, and I won't snap your head from your body." He seethed in a whisper. Kagome was startled to see how angry this guy truly became when he was compared to his older brother like she had said before.
Kagome narrowed her eyes, trying to speak, "I… I'd never take back what's so honestly true." She whimpered. He paused. Was this girl stupid? Did she not really think he'd kill right here and now?
Just when he put more pressure on her neck to split her apart, he suddenly loosened it a bit, 'She has unique powers like no one else.' He reminded himself. However, could they really be of use to him? Was she really as powerful as he thought she was?
Taisuke looked back at his sword that still gave off the same electrical energy from time to time. 'Possibly…'
Taikan looked out of the cave in worry, "I wonder what's going on down there."
Without his advanced hearing, sniffing, and ability to sense something happen right away, he was just a regular child. 'Ugh, I feel like my ears are clogged or something. I don't like turning into a human much, especially at a time like this.' He sighed in thought however. He remembered his mother telling him one time, when he was human; she told him how it was a special gift. He didn't know why, but nevertheless believed his mother's words. He smiled now; maybe he'd understand why she says this, maybe when he's a little bit older.
Sanae came by his side, "I can't sense anything at all." She exclaimed with a throw of her hand in the air, "My nose and ears aren't working right." Taikan almost chuckled for the first time in what seemed like many long days.
He put a hand on her shoulder, "I know, but that's what happens when we turn human ya know. Just like Dad, we lose our demonic powers for a moonless night, and then get them back when the sun rises again the next day." He reminded her and she nodded knowingly as if she had heard it a million in times in a row today, "I know, but, why does Daddy not mind it when he turns human. I don't enjoy it much but he doesn't seem to think anything of it."
Taikan shrugged, agreeing with her. "Maybe he'll tell us later… Hey Asoka, do you have that poison powder ready yet?" He asked and glanced at his best friend behind him and his sister.
Asoka looked up from what he was doing, "Yeah, I just have to mix in one more thing and it'll be all ready." He aid and went back to work.
Sanae shook her head in uncertainty, "I don't know about this you guys." She looked at Taikan, "Mom and Dad are going to be so angry with us if they know we're going to try and help them like this." She said in warning.
Her brother sighed and looked down, "Yeah I know Sanae, but we have to help our parents out. I mean, they can't defeat this guy on their own, did you sense how much power he had be fore we turned human? It was a lot!" He held out his arms very wide apart to accent his point. He remembered a time not too long ago when he and Asoka had said they'd help fight the demon no matter what.
They both stopped at the stream and the boys knelt down in front of it, "I'm sure that's what they're talking about, I mean, what else could it be?" Taikan had continued. Asoka nodded to him and dipped the pale in the stream to fill it, "I agree, I think we're going to have to fight some monster before it destroys the whole world." Asoka said. Taikan nodded, "Yeah, we have to help our parents fight the demon, but I'm not sure if they'll let us."
"They'll have to. My mother is pregnant, remember? And my father doesn't have his wind tunnel anymore." …
… "You're right Asoka, we'll help our parents fight this demon, no matter what." …
Taikan closed his eyes and nodded, he wasn't going back on what he had inwardly vowed that day by the stream, and he didn't plan to.
"We must take our leave now Rin, I sense the power growing stronger. And with Inuyasha a human as of now, there's little chance of saving the orbs of Higan from evil's grasp." Sesshoumaru said and led Rin inside to tell Jaken of his news.
Rin looked down and held both her hands around his left arm, "All right." She said in a soft voice and glanced at his arm thoughtfully; she remembered how he had gained the arm back from another demon that was using it. Of course the demon lord had beaten the demon in a mere few seconds and he got his arm back. It was then that Rin had suggested they go to Kaede to use a spell in order to permanently seal the arm to his body once more and forever. The old priestess had succeeded and the arm had worked perfectly ever since, as if Inuyasha had never cut it off in the first place.
The three kids were already inside and playing tag around the large living area inside. The laughter of children could be heard echoing throughout the castle, and although it rather irritated some of the servants and especially Jaken, it was pure heavenly music to Sesshoumaru and Rin.
"Jaken." Sesshoumaru said in his usual sharp tone.
And as usual, Jaken came bounding down the large stone steps of the staircase and appeared in front of the demon lord clumsily. "Yes my lord? What is it that you request?"
"Rin and I are leaving to assist my brother and his mate in battle. Watch over the children till we return." He said as Rin gathered her kids in her arms and hugged them firmly. They looked confused but hugged her back anyway.
"Mommy, what's going on? Are you and Daddy leaving somewheres?" Tani asked while she let tears brim her eyes. Rin saddened, "Oh sweetie, only for a little while, but we'll be back soo-" She was interrupted by much crying from all three of the kids. Rin sweatdropped and waved her hands in the air gently to try and stop their tears, "Now now, please calm down, we'll be back before long I promise, oh!" She was knocked over by the children all hugging her.
They all stopped and looked at Sesshoumaru who was done speaking to Jaken who had left the room, and now he looked toward them.
The children's large eyes teared up again and at once, they all jumped on Seshoumaru. Tani was on his right arm as the other two boys were on each of his legs.
While Sesshoumaru just stood there with an emotionless expression on his face, the children crawled up his legs and cried things like, "Daddy don't go! Please take us with you! We'll be good if we go, promise!"
Rin couldn't help but burst out laughing when she saw her husband just standing there as the kids crawled all over him begging for him to stay or them to go with him. 'They love their Daddy.' Rin smiled sadly shook her head.
Sesshoumaru gently took his children off of him and set them down on the ground, he knelt down to their level and put a hand on Tani's head, "Your mother and I will return shortly, I promise."
Tani sniffed, "S-So, that means we can't go with you huh." She sniffed again and he shook his head, "No, it's much too dangerous."
Rin nodded and stood up, "That's right. But we'll be back, so don't worry ok?" She smiled brightly and the children all nodded in sadness.
After both Sesshoumaru and Rin hugged and kissed their kids goodbye, the demon lord smirked when he saw Jaken enter the room once more, "And while we're gone, you all can play with Jaken until we come back."
Jaken froze in place and started whimpering, "Lord Sesshoumaru, they can't possibly have any fun with me." He tried to suggest, but the children all laughed and chased the poor imp up the staircase from where he came. On the way up, both of them heard a faint, "Bye Mommy and Daddy!" from the kids and a "Lord Sesshoumaru, why must you torture me like this?" from Jaken.
Rin giggled and hugged Sessoumaru's arm, "I'm going to miss them terribly." She said sadly and blinked away oncoming tears.
Sesshoumaru sighed in agreement and laid a hand on her arm that was around his, "So will I."
Without thinking, Taisuke released his large hand from around Kagome's slender neck and she fell to the ground roughly. She coughed and grabbed her bow that she had dropped before. 'I wonder why he didn't kill me like he said he would.' She wondered, but shook her head and got an arrow ready. 'I have to destroy him now before it's all too late.'
'What am I doing?' Taisuke questioned silently and look down at Kagome who was aiming her arrow at him. And before he could think anything else, she fired.
Inuyasha stood up quickly again and ran toward the two. "All right! Take him down Kagome!" He encouraged once he saw her aim the arrow at Taisuke. And just after he had said that, she did release the arrow and it immediately hit Taisuke.
Kagome scampered from her spot on the ground as the arrow's powers took effect on Taisuke.
She ran toward Inuyasha while looking back over her shoulder at Taisuke, whom she couldn't see through the smoke that had appeared from him trying to stop the miko power.
Kagome turned her head back around and ran right into Inuyasha who laced his arms around her fiercely. Kagome breathed in a sigh of relied at feeling he was there and she started crying, "I-I thought I was g-going to lose you just then." She tried to say in between sobs. Both their knees weakened and they fell to the ground in each others arms.
Inuyasha was so close to crying now that he didn't know what to do, "I thought I was going to lose you too Kagome." He tried to breathe evenly but couldn't. He instead buried his face in Kagome's hair and could only smell her vanilla scent faintly.
He widened his eyes when he saw the smoke clearing from where Taisuke was.
Inuyasha instinctively tightened his hold around Kagome who was still crying against his chest. He swallowed and felt his breath quicken, 'N-No, he's coming back.' Inuyasha felt absolutely scared for Kagome. How would he protect her from him?
'I can't… No, this is… just the same.'
"Kagome I…You know how much I hate this…this form of mine don't you?" …
Kagome inwardly jumped, not knowing he would ask her a question to start. She swallowed softly, "Y-Yes Inuyasha, you always tell me when –"
"No…Kagome I, I absolutely despise it."
The smoke had all completely cleared, and Taisuke remained standing as he was before. Kagome's miko powers from her sacred arrow hadn't worked. He slowly turned around to face them, and Inuyahsa only saw him smirk. 'No, this can't be happening.' Inuyahsa kept thinking.
"Kagome, I can't stand it when I'm like this. I feel so…so trapped, undependable…and so limited at what I can do…I always fail…fail at what I normally am able to do when I'm in this appearance." …
Kagome narrowed her eyes in a sort of sad confusion, "Inuyasha, are you talking about me falling down those stairs?...It was my fault. I was being stupid and didn't look where I was go-"
Inuyasha spun around and took Kagome gently by the shoulders, trying to get her full attention. "Then why do I feel so responsible for it?"
Taisuke took one step closer to them. Another. He was almost here. He was half way there when he neared his sword that was next to the arrow that had shot it. He looked down at it, and bent down to pick it up. The sword still seemed to reject him, but he could take hold of it nonetheless. Taisuke gripped the word in his burnt hand while it was till electrifying the pink miko power. He stood back up fully once more, and continued to walk toward Inuyasha and Kagome.
Inuyasha had never felt so worn out in his life. After fighting Reina, he was already tired, but now after fighting Taisuke in his demon form, he was even more tired. And when he turned human, all of it just doubled and now he was exhausted.
"Why do I feel responsible for it?... For all of it?"
Inuyashya also felt kind of strange and out of place from what he was doing. Someone like him who is so independent all the time, felt lost and confused at how he was handling this situation, one that he had been bottling up inside himself for all of his life.
"Kagome, when I'm like this, I can't…I can't protect you, I can't save you, I can't even make you feel safe…not when I'm like this."
"Kagome… I'm so sorry."