Twin Incarnations

Clang! Two swords met but neither gave way. As one they parted only to attack again. Kuromaru moved in close to Inuyasha and breathed out some miasma.

Coughing Inuyasha backed off just far enough to attack. "Wind Scar!" They all watched the flow of power travel along the ground and engulf Kuromaru.

"Did he get him? Is it over?" Shippo ran towards Inuyasha.

"Stay back Shippo!"

"But we saw him get hit!" Shippo did as he was told, looking around nervously.

"Ha! Inuyasha was too slow to get me, nice try though." Kuromaru jumped down from a tree, his sword flashing in the sunlight.

"Come on Inuyasha." Kagome encouraged under her breath, then out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw something. She turned for a better look but didn't see anything; still she sensed a new demonic aura. "Inuyasha be careful there's …!" Kagome didn't get to finish. Black spikes flew through the air to hit Inuyasha in his back.

"No! Inuyasha!" Kagome ran to him, uncaring of the two demons just a few feet away.

His back was burning, like it was on fire. Inuyasha struggled to his knees and found Kagome at his side.

"Are you all right?" She took his arm and helped him to stand.

"Yeah, I'm okay." He leaned against the tetsusaiga and eyed the two demons.

"They're twins!"

"Hmph, they're bastards. Sneaky, bastard incarnations of Naraku! Where is he? We must be getting close if he's sending out flunkies!"

"Amusing. Father sends his regards, meet my brother Miekomaru. Did you enjoy the pain he delivered to you?"

Inuyasha growled, "Damn it! One of them was bad enough." He shrugged his shoulders to try and lessen the pain. "Kagome, you should get Shippo and hide."

"Oh don't do that, Miekomaru would only hunt her down and drag her back. He might play with her first but we want her to see you die. Don't let her miss all the action."

"Besides, she'd miss the arrival of your friends. They're on their way but I'm afraid they won't be much help. I treated the monk to my attack as well and he's not feeling too good."

"Bastard! Did you do it while his back was turned too!" Pain was forgotten as anger and worry took over.

"Well not quite behind his back but he was very surprised, the look on his face made my day!"

"Brother, you are so devious." Kuromaru threw an arm around Miekomaru's shoulders.

Inuyasha had enough of them acting so pleased and superior, he was about to attack when the hiraikotsu came up behind the brothers and knocked them flying. "Great hit Sango!" He, Shippo and Kagome ran to meet them as Kirara landed.

Miroku slid to the ground before anyone could help him, he was already unconscious. Kagome worked quickly and undid his kimono. He was bleeding and his skin was swollen and turning dark. Miekomaru's attack was definitely toxic to humans.

Sango's heart leaped in her chest at the sight of Miroku's wounds. It looked so awful. Suddenly she remembered how she'd misjudged him earlier and guilt filled her mind. "Oh no, Miroku! Kagome, can you help him?" Her eyes were tortured as she looked at Kagome.

"I'll do all that I can Sango." Kagome didn't make any promises, the wounds were horrible. Silently she prayed that she had the right medicines.

Behind them were the sounds of the twins picking themselves up off the ground.

"Wench, you'll pay for that!" Kuromaru again drew his sword.

Inuyasha turned back to face them. Since Miroku was out of it and Kagome was taking care of him, it was up to him to protect them. Sango could fight but would she leave Miroku? The fight was about to begin again, it was then that Kirara came to stand beside him.

Sango stared down a Miroku for another moment then laid a hand against his cheek. Whispering, "Get better Miroku, I'll be right back." Forcing herself up she went to join Inuyasha and take revenge for Miroku.

"A united front, huh? It won't do you any good. It's only the three of you, and one's a weak human. This should be fun brother." Miekomaru smiled.

The battle started anew with the brothers making separate attacks. Kuromaru went after Sango. Teamed up with Kirara, the two were able to hold him at bay. Meanwhile Miekomaru kept sending those black spikes at Inuyasha who deflected them with his sword.

"Will he be all right?" Shippo asked Kagome while keeping an eye on the battle.

"I don't know Shippo. I have some medicine but I think I should stop some of the bleeding first." Kagome didn't like the way the wounds kept bleeding and taking some bandages from her bag, worked quickly to bind them.

"Fox Fire!" Shippo had just managed to deflect Miekomaru's spikes. He had attacked Kagome's back as she worked over Miroku.

"Oh thanks Shippo." Kagome kept working on stopping the bleeding. Soon she mixed some herbs in water and helped him to drink it down. Not once did she look to the battle as she worked, she was too worried over Miroku.