Mister Niceguy

Disclaimer: hiro doesn't own Inuyasha. The title is also part of a lyric from a Blind Guardian song...

Chapter 13: Down on the Battlefield

"Inuyasha!"

It was too late for Inuyasha to defend himself and the only response that came to him was to clench his eyes closed and tighten his muscles in morbid anticipation of the impending attack and the sickening sounds that would result from Kouga's claws digging themselves into the hanyou's neck.

Any potential doubts of Naraku's influence and control over the Wolf Demon were erased from Inuyasha's mind as the eventuality of Kouga's strike drew closer. He coud feel the evil aura being emitted from those razor sharp claws as they drew ever nearer to their target.

The instant seemed like an eternity to Inuyasha as he awaited the sounds and sensations of pain and carnage that were about to besiege him. Glimpses of a full range of emotions shot through his mind and among them was the feeling of helplessness that he had not the time to do anything else to defend himself.

Finally Inuyasha's ears were met with the sound of flesh attacking flesh. But confusion immediately flooded his mind as he realized that something was wrong; he'd heard a sound but had felt no pain.

Another brief moment of mentally analyzing the situation revealed to Inuyasha that on top of hearing the sound but still having his neck remain intact, the sound he heard wasn't even the right one. A deafening "crack" didn't quite fit as an accompaniment to claws burrowing their way past hanyou vocal chords.

'Getting run through by demon claws usually hurts a lot more than this and doesn't go "crack," ' he thought. 'What's going on? Did I die or something?'

Realizing that he wasn't going to get any answers with his eyes still closed, he pushed back thoughts of being dead and slowly cracked them open. As he began to take in the scene before him his eyes quickly shot open. Before him was Koga, drawn back and nursing his attacking arm, and Sango, a little off to the side and drawing her sword to engage in battle.

"What just happened?"

Sango ignored Inuyasha's question just as she ignored the powerful emotions that had held her captive only a few short minutes before.

She asked, "Are you alright, Inuyasha?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," he replied still confused. "I still don't know how that happened, but yeah, I'm fine."

Sango didn't answer or even look back as she kept her attention on Kouga, which hid the small smirk brought about by Inuyasha's smart comment. She was sure that Naraku's unwilling puppet would take advantage of the situation the instant her guard was down and she wasn't about to give him that oppurtunity.

Fortunately for Inuyasha, Kagome, who had dashed to Inuyasha's side at the sight of him in danger, filled him in. Her voice expressed a feeling of relief at his safety as she spoke between gasps to catch her breath.

"Sango stopped Kouga from hitting you – she slammed his arm down with a kick." She thought about it for a moment as she finished catching her breath and finished saying, "It was pretty awesome, actually."

Taking his attention away from Kagome again he returned his gaze to Sango. She'd ripped her skirt with her kick, exposing a wobbly stance and a big, nasty bruise on the back of her leg, the results of her life-saving attack.

The kick that had, for the moment, neutralized the superpowered Kouga had been a flying axe kick that would have cleaved the arm of any human and many lesser demons in two. Even with Sango's considerable strength, it had taken an amazing amount of power for Sango to leap forward, snap her leg up (the action that produced the tear in her long skirt) and especially to slam it down hard enough to divert Kouga's immensely powerful strike. And the bruise on her leg and her visible strain in standing on that leg proved to Inuyasha that she had given everything she had to ensure it was enough...to protect him.

Inuyasha's expression darkened as he continued to watch the demonslayer in front of him.

'Again I've been saved by one of the people I'm supposed to be protecting. There she is, protecting ME again even after nearly breaking her leg to save me a minute ago. The whole reason I was out here training in the first place was to keep this king of thing from happening again! I can't be weak! I have to be strong so I can protect my friends!' Inuyasha's eyes strayed for a moment to the girl at his side. 'I have to be strong so I can protect Kago--'

Inuyasha shook his thoughts aside and hardened his gaze into one of determination. He drew Tetsusaiga and stepped forward next to Sango and put his unburdened hand on her shoulder. His eyes never left Kouga and despite a slight twitch of surprise from Inuyasha's touch neither did Sango's.

"Thanks, Sango, but let me take it from here," he said, silently and motionlessly indicating that she should take a break in light of her injuries.

Sango didn't move from her battle stance and said, "It's alright, Inuyasha, I'm still good to fight."

While certainly an important factor in his request, concern for the taijya was not the only reason for Inuyasha asking her to tag out. Inuyasha felt he had something to prove, and the only way to prove it was to go into battle alone.

'I need to fight him myself, to prove that I can still be strong. That even though I've changed somehow, that I've become nicer and more in tune with my emotions, I'm not weak! I need to prove to myself that I can still protect my friends and that I won't let them down...That I won't let her down...'

"Sango, let me fight him alone...so I can try out all that new stuff you taught me." A small smile briefly graced Inuyasha's lips but vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "Please."

That one word had betrayed the hanyou's feelings to Sango. She sensed a pleading tone, one that was asking her to let him prove something to himself. She didn't want to stand down but she couldn't bring herself to deny his request and prevent him from doing whatever he felt so deeply that he needed to do. And besides, his presence and his smiles and his friendly tone of voice were beginning to tear away the walls of resolve that were keeping her feelings at bay, and the first traces of guilt of betraying Kagome by falling for Inuyasha and sorrow at the situation as a whole returning to dull her battle senses.

'Okay, Inuyasha. Kagome-chan loves you so I don't have the right to try and stop you. Go find what you're looking for on the battlefield. But please...be careful..."

"Alright, he's all yours Inuyasha. But only because you said the magic word." She put on a small smile to mask her true feelings as she started limping her way back to fill the place Inuyasha had left at Kagome's side. When the young miko placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, Sango felt those twinges of guilt and sadness once again grow deeper. And they grew deeper still when she heard Inuyasha's next comment.

"Sango – please protect Kagome for me," he said, turning his head and flashing her a smile. Thinking that he'd hurt Sango's pride by kicking her out of the fight he tried to compensate by giving her the task of defending Kagome. But it turned out that even his new empathy for his friends had its flaws.

Normallly Sango would be all to happy to defend Kagome. She was after all her best friend, like a sister to her, and she'd give her life to protect just as fast as she would for Kohaku. But Sango wasn't stupid and knew what Inuyasha was trying to do. Even though she knew Inuyasha was only trying his best to be her friend, the gesture was rather patronizing. It wasn't like Kagome needed any protecting at the moment anyway.

She would have been a little irked by that under normal circumstances, but she was oblivious to that fact as she was emotionally kicked in the gut. Inuyasha's words had hit her hard.

'Of course, Inuyasha. Protect Kagome-chan. She's the one you really care about. Thanks for your concern about me but I know you'd sacrifice anything to keep her safe.' She glanced at Kagome's compassionate face as the young girl provided another comforting and encouraging smile, and again the taijya felt worse. 'And here I am getting jealous that you want me to protect Kagome. I'm so selfish...I'm so horrible...I care about Kagome-chan, too, and here I feel like I'm stabbing her in back by having these feelings for Inuyasha.' Sango closed her eyes to hold back tears that threatened to escape from her sorrowful eyes. Taking a few seconds to compose herself she reopened them and replied.

"Sure Inuyasha. I'll protect Kagome for you."

And just as she said that Kouga charged Inuyasha to once again press the attack.

--

Inuyasha's request for Sango to protect Kagome had a sombering effect on the miko as well.

"Please protect Kagome for me," he'd said. It was then that Kagome started feeling threatened by the fact that Sango had feelings for her hanyou. Seeing the smile he flashed her when he asked Sango to protect her made Kagome's heart sink, and hearing him ask Sango to protect her only made her feel worse.

'He asked Sango to protect me...because he thinks I'm too weak to protect myself. I'm just a burden to him and everyone else, someone who always gets in the way needed to be saved.' Forgetting the fact that she had exhibited enormous strength when she fearlessly vanquished a youkai to protect Inuyasha mere hours prior Kagome kept berating herself. 'I'm so useless...Maybe Inuyasha really would like Sango better than me. After all, she is incredibly strong and...' she glanced over at the nearly prone and dejected Miroku, who had dragged her out her in the first place. "...and they did seem to be having fun together when we saw them. I know that Inuyasha wasn't trying anything like Miroku thought, but maybe...maybe they are more compatible. Maybe Sango is more right for him than I am...'

And then Kouga and Inuyasha started to fight.

--

It seemed that Kouga's innate healing abilities, assisted by Naraku's malicious powers had repaired the damage Sango had done to his arm, so Naraku had Kouga put it to good use. Swipe after swipe of the deadly appendages narrowly missed Inuyasha, who was doing his best to evade. Finally Inuyasha fought back after analyzing the Wolf Youkai's movements enough to predict his attacks, and instead of dodging on the last strike he blocked by swinging the back of Tetsusaiga against the Kouga's forearm. Hitting the spot that Sango had damaged seemed put Kouga off guard a little more than it should have, so Inuyasha took the opportunity to ease his block into a combination and strike back.

He'd swung his sword from his right side to the left, and manipulating the momentum caused by displacing the hefty weapon Inuyasha swung his his left leg around to plant a spin kick into Kouga's unguarded jaw, his leg flying up as his upper body and Tetsusaiga swung down and around until the circle had been completed and Inuyasha was once again in his original stance.

Kouga was backpedaling, trying to regain control of himself after the attack, but Inuyasha pressed on. Instead of charging forward and tossing his enormous blade around like a skill-less brute he showed that he could indeed learn new tricks. With fluid, flowing motions he moved forward, slashing his sword in an unpredictable but fully controlled pattern, only nearly missing connecting with Kouga's body and keeping the wolf on the defensive, preventing him from making any sort of counterstrike.

Finally Kouga leapt high into the air and back flipped his way back a few yard to put some distance between them so he could have a chance to retake the offensive. But before he made any move to attack, Naraku studied Inuyasha through the wolf's eyes.

'What is this? Inuyasha isn't using any of his sloppy tactics...he actually seems to be using his halfling brain for once! How could he have improved his technique in so short a time...it's unfathomable!'

"Hanyou!" Naraku's slithering, terrifying voice poured unfittingly from Kouga's mouth. "I see that you are fighting like with some small amount of skill and poise this night...Very unlike your usual blithering and blundering attacks. Tell me: what has brought about this change?"

Inuyasha smiled, a bit of his cockiness that had been unseen for the past few days resurfacing.

'He's trying to buy time because he can't defeat me this time. Fine, Naraku, I'll play your game.'

"Just did a little training with Sango over here. It seems that it's more than enough to put your filthy hide in its place." Inuyasha's smirk grew as he taunted Naraku. He briefly felt familiar emotions and feelings course through him, but they passed too quickly to interfere with his concentration.

But Inuyasha's cockiness, as brief as it had been, would not go unpunished. While not reflected on Kouga's blank and expressionless face, back in his hideout Naraku was sneering and smirking in what was the closest he got to uncontrolled glee.

'So, the demonslayer is the one behind this new Inuyasha. She proves to be a thorn in my side of late...' A plan was forming in that twisted mind and once again speaking remotely through Kouga's lips Naraku revealed his next move to his troublesome opponent.

"That demonslayer wench seems to be at the heart of your upper hand in this battle, hanyou...Perhaps I should eliminate her first!"

With that said Kouga charged straight at Inuyasha, and just as Inuyasha moved to counter Kouga leaped clear over the hanyou and speedily dashed towards Sango.

Sango's eyes widened a little as fear began to overtake her. But she was a fighter, and while she couldn't keep fear away, she was able to keep it from controlling her. So she shoved Kagome away from her to keep her out of the line of fire, then steeled herself into a defensive stance, raised her wakazashi to the ready and prepared to take whatever Kouga was going to dish out.

But the calculating and conniving mind of Naraku that drove the Wolf Prince's body had been all too aware of the condition the taijya's kick had left her leg in. Infusing Koga with more evil strength, Naraku used his puppet to slap demonslayer's sword aside and launch a blindingly fast kick to her injured leg.

"Ahhhhhh!" Sango screamed, a shrill sound that pierced the air. Pain coursed through her leg, and it was so unbearable that it gave way and she collapse, falling defenseless on her back.

Kouga stood over her, again emotionless and blank, except for a glint of life in his eyes...Naraku's life, hateful and pleased. Kouga raised his arm, and again his claws emitted a deadly aura.

"Now you die!"

--

Inuyasha was running as fast as he could to assist Sango, and Kagome, despite her feelings of uselessness and a sprained ankle she'd received from Sango's forceful shove to keep her away from Kouga's attack, moved to help her friend as well. Neither one would make it in time, as Kouga's super speed had put him too far ahead of Inuyasha for the hanyou to catch up, and Kagome's injury prevented her from covering even the short distance to reach Sango before it was too late. Still they pressed on, screaming and looking on in terror, fearing that their best efforts would prove to be in vain and Sango would meet an untimely end.

But it seemed that everyone had forgotten Miroku's presence. He'd been watching the exchange, still on the ground paralyzed from the pain of Sango's angry punch. But seeing Sango as the target of the murderous, manipulated Kouga forced him to fight back the pain and take action.

'No! Leave my Sango out of this you bastard!' He'd made it to his feet, still unnoticed, and saw Kouga standing over the defenseless form of his beloved taijya. Filled with rage and concern he pulled away the beads holding back his Wind Tunnel and raised his palm towards the Wolf just as he was thrusting his raised claw down to steal the life from Sango.

"LEAVE SANGO ALONE!"

Koga was pulled toward the portable black hole to meet his end. Miroku didn't even concern himself with the prospect of killing the real Kouga in the process and fully intended to draw him into the cursed void in his right hand.

But before his puppet was lost to the curse he had designed, Naraku willed a swarm of Samiyoshou to fly forth from hidden nests implanted in Kouga's armor and clothes. Miroku hurried to seal his Wind Tunnel with panicked expedience, but was unable to prevent the intake of a couple of the poisonous insects before he returned the enchanted beads to their place on his wrist. He immediately grew weak and crumpled to the ground in agony as Kouga regained his footing.

"It looks like I should kill you first after all, Monk."

But Miroku's distraction had given Inuyasha a chance to catch up and he sounded a battlecry as he swiped Tetsusaiga across Kouga's path. Again, the wolf narrowly avoided the attack, forcing Naraku to rethink his strategy.

'I cannot win against Inuyasha when he is this unpredictable. It seems that I am forced to retreat for now.'

With that he commanded Kouga to escape, putting his tremendous speed to work, and in a tornado the Wolf Prince disappeared.

A/N: H-hiya, faithful readers! Betcha didn't expect to see another one of these, didja? ; Yeah, sorry 'bout that. But the months and months of hiatus are over, at least for now. I dunno how well I'll be able to keep up an update schedule, but I guess it's time to give it a try. Anyway, here are some heads up in regards to me and the fanfic scene overall...

- I've actually had this chapter (pretty much) written for quite some time. It actually goes on longer than this, but this is what I already had typed up, so I went ahead and put it up because it works as a decent enough chapter stop. So I pretty much have the next chapter written, just need to type it up. (I was handwriting these when I worked on it at my old job, so...)

- I'm gonna need to dig up my notes again to refresh my memory on the direction the story was going. And then I might need to change it if my thought processes have changed since last I thought about this. And they probably have, because glancing over some of this recently makes me cry at how bad I think it is...;

- I remember coming up with a few other ideas for fanfics, but I think I'm gonna wait until I'm done (or close to done) with this one before I start on those. Two were Inuyasha fics (although, one was kinda silly-fun and I dunno if I wanna do it right now) and then one was a Ranma fic. And who knows, maybe I'll end up wanting to do a Stargate fic...or EYESHIELD 21:D

- I've gotten backed up on reading fanfics lately, too, but the fics I read haven't been too active in terms of updates lately so I'm not too far behind, I guess...

- Um, I guess that's it. I hope to be more active in updating "Mister Niceguy," but I think I said that the last time I updated and see how that turned out...Anyway, I'll try again. And I want to thank all the people who are still reading this, as well as anyone who's just now stumbling across it. Thanks a bunch!

(P.S. - I probably need to go through an proofread this at some point...)