Chapter 02 – The Result of the Strongest Growing Stronger
"Shit!" Inuyasha braced himself as Sesshoumaru charged forward. Miroku, Sango, and Kagome suddenly ran to locations where the swords' auras would not harm them. Sesshoumaru slashed with Tokijin, Inuyasha met it with Tessaiga, Sesshoumaru then twirled around and slashed with Tensaiga, Inuyasha guarded again. Shit! Can't keep up like this… Inuyasha thought to himself as Sesshoumaru still pressed Tensaiga against his blade. Wait! I thought Tensaiga was unable to harm, does this mean that he learned a way to make it kill? Or is he up to something…
"It is over Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru pressed Tensaiga against Tessaiga even stronger. Tessaiga began to revert back to its rusty and dull form. Shit! He can repel Tessaiga's transformation! Inuyasha quickly pulled back, then propelled himself backwards to avoid getting too close in combat. However, Sesshoumaru was faster than he was and was already hovering above Inuyasha ready to strike with Tokijin.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango jumped from a treetop and threw her large boomerang. It passed right in front of Inuyasha as he was still moving backward. This made Sesshoumaru hesitate, otherwise be hit by a human. He stopped and landed on the ground, looking at Sango. Then he sensed the boomerang returning to Sango, and he was in its path.
They are smarter than I expected Sesshoumaru thought to himself. He stepped backward to avoid getting hit. Then he sensed Kagome's mystic purifying arrow incoming from behind. He simply jumped to avoid getting hit by it, then felt a strong wind force from the opposite side of Sango. As soon as he landed, he planted his feet to the ground to try and avoid being consumed by the void. He looked backward, the Kazaana was also pulling Hiraikotsu back toward him again. However, because of the Kazaana, it was difficult for him to move, or otherwise be consumed. He gripped Tensaiga and held it behind him; the boomerang struck the sword, but was reflected by the barrier.
"Souryuuha!" Sesshoumaru swung Tokijin towards Miroku. Shit! Miroku closed his Kazaana immediately before he would suck the lightning of Tokijin. He then rolled behind a tree for safety. Sesshoumaru looked at Inuyasha and gave a cold glare.
"Shit! Give me more time so I can recover Tessaiga!" He yelled to his allies, although they were all also worn out. Sango charged towards Sesshoumaru, wielding her boomerang with one hand and her sword in the other. She swung Hiraikotsu toward Sesshoumaru; however, he simply squatted to avoid it, then slapped it away. The boomerang flew from her grip and almost hit Kagome. Sango clutched her sword with both hands, then began to step back. Sesshoumaru slashed at her with Tokijin, Sango guarded. She was safe from Tokijin itself; however, Tokijin emitted shocks that pulsed through their swords, into Sango herself, she grew weary and collapsed.
"Miroku! Take Sango, we have to flee!" Kagome shot another arrow at Sesshoumaru. He simply dodged it, then dashed toward her. He slashed at her, but was repelled by Inuyasha and Tessaiga.
"Kagome, Miroku, run to safety…" he struggled just to keep himself up against Tokijin's shock pulses. "Arrggghhh!" Inuyasha lost much of his strength, until Sesshoumaru was able to disarm him of Tessaiga. However, it was tossed straight to Kagome, who was running away, she caught it.
Sesshoumaru became impatient, "Souryuuha!" he sent waves of blue lightning through Inuyasha, towards Kagome and Miroku. Tessaiga's sheath protected Inuyasha from the attack; however, it still launched him backward, he hit Kagome, then they both hit Miroku during their flight, everyone was protected because of the sheath. They all landed close to a cliff. After the dust settled, they struggled back to their feet. The ground shook, they were startled.
"Oh no! Is this what I think it is?" Sango regained conscience and tried to balance herself. "The cliff is loose!" Before they could do anything about it, they were falling. It seemed as though all hope was lost, until Shippo retrieved Kagome and Inuyasha. Soon Kirara also came to catch Miroku and Sango. "We are not going back to confront him… Are we?"
"No, let's make it down to the base, and get as far as possible," Kagome instructed.
They soon reached the lower ground and began to walk. "This is unreal, if Sesshoumaru keeps this up he'll keep growing stronger, we will never be able to defeat him," Miroku sighed.
"Cheer up, if Tensaiga has new abilities like that, I am sure Tessaiga does too," Kagome tried her best to smile.
"But the problem is… Sesshoumaru has Tensaiga, which alone can counter Tessaiga, which means Sesshoumaru already has the upper hand. However, he also has Tokijin…" Sango frowned.
"He is always alone though, Inuyasha has us, we've helped him in the past to ward Sesshoumaru, haven't we?" she tried to smile again, then looked at Inuyasha.
"Shut up, I shouldn't rely on any of you," Inuyasha walked a far distance from the group.
Miroku whispered to Sango, "He is only mad because Sesshoumaru can kick his ass now, everything will be fine soon enough."
They all walked until sunrise, then more until sunset. They grew weary and weakened, with no food and not resting. They soon started to drag themselves, not knowing where they are going or where anything is, in fact.
"You shall not escape this time, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru stood upon a tree, looking down at the tiresome party.
"… Run!" Kagome yelled and burst out at full speed. The others soon followed her. They ran, Sesshoumaru chased them, they could tell he was also tired because he had trouble catching up to them. Soon they came across an open field, one they've never seen before. Kagome looked back to see where she was compared to everyone else, but as soon as she did so, she tripped into a well.
"Huh? The stupid girl fell!" Inuyasha jumped down to retrieve her.
"Wait! Don't leave us up here with this monster!" Miroku grabbed Sango's hand and jumped down as well. Shippo was just only reaching the clearing; he had lost sight of all the others.
"Uhhh… guys?" he shivered in fear, "Where are you!" he began to cry. Then he noticed a well and approached it slowly. Maybe they went down here? He thought. He was too busy being afraid to notice that Sesshoumaru was standing right behind him. He felt the presence however, so he turned around slowly. In his vision, he saw a mountainous giant with deep glowing red eyes. "Waaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" By this time, he did not care whether they had jumped down the well or not, he was afraid.
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"Yeah… that's what happened… basically Sesshoumaru beat the shit out of us and we ran in fear down a well…" Kagome sighed as she walked along the road at night.
"Sesshoumaru… isn't he the son of the infamous Inu no Taisho?" Kodoku rubbed his chin.
"Do you know my father?" Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder.
"I heard he is fighting Ryokossei at this moment…"
"What! That well… could it have been…"
"Just like the Bone-Eater's Well?"
"Ahhh no wonder the town looked a bit old-fashioned, but it should suffice," Miroku pointed toward a lit-up spot in the distance.
"Your name is Miroku is it not?" Kodoku looked forward.
"Why, yes, it is. Why do you ask?"
"Your Kazaana… could it be a curse? You are only human after-all."
"Yes… and no. It is from a hanyou called Naraku, it consumes all in its path."
"Have you been trying to rid yourself of this curse?"
"We have already slain Naraku, however… the Kazaana remains in my hand. The thing is, I can control it now, and it will not destroy m when the time comes."
"I see, so it is a gift."
"You can call it that, it is my strength," Miroku picked up the pace. They all walked in silence from then on, until they reached the town. "Hurry, the tavern is this way," Miroku led them through a maze of bustling streets to a well-lit building. "Here is our room," Miroku opened a door and smiled as everyone entered the room, Sango was waiting inside.
"Kodoku…" Inuyasha looked down and sighed.
"Inuyasha?"
"Tell me more about my father… he is still alive isn't he?"
"The latest news about your father was his attack on Ryokossei."
"Do you know anything else?"
"Izayoi, a princess, is bearing his child at a nearby castle, his next move would be to retrieve or protect them." He took a sip from his tea.
Inuyasha stood, "I just have to meet him… I know I've seen him after I defeated Sou'unga, but to meet him live… It is something I just have to do."
Miroku placed his hand upon Inuyasha's shoulder, "Inuyasha please," he looked down, "we haven't rested for two days, we will go to the castle tomorrow, isn't that what you were thinking?"
He sat again, "Yeah… I could go on… but at this strength who knows what might happen to me."
"Wait… you said you went through a well that transported you through time?"
"Yes. Why?"
"And you said Sesshoumaru chased you?"
"Yes…"
"And what would happen if he were to come here as well!"
"Oh shit…" Inuyasha looked down again, "Two Sesshoumarus…"
Miroku stood, "Okay… enough with this, get some sleep. We will revitalize our strength and spirit, and visit the castle tomorrow, agreed?"
"Agreed," they all said in unison.