Chapter 9

Battle of Love and War

Kagome crouched down and brought her arrow back up. She could hear the others preparing themselves again also. Eyes locked on the area beside the chair she watched as a huge tan paw came out from behind. A second passed then the rest of the creature slowly came out, sharp claws clicking on the stone floor.

She gasped as she gazed upon a huge demon catamount. Strong taunt muscles rippled under tan fur that shinned brightly in the strange lighting. Intelligent amber eyes locked onto Kagome and barred menacing teeth that seemed to drip with malevolence in what Kagome sworn was a grin or could have been a snarl.

Kagome tightened her arrow as the creature walked up to her and sat a couple of feet in front of her. She would have shot him but the reeking smell of carnage made her head dizzy.

Sango and Miroku stepped towards Kagome but was stopped in their tracks by a snarling Marashi. "You will not interfere."

"What do you want with me?" she whispered barely audible, but he seemed to be able to hear her as his pointy ears perked forward.

"To kill you of course. Why else would I be here?" he snorted and jerked his head back indicating the witch demon that was still sitting on her throne. "Miss Karanome over there needed the blood of a priestess and she knew that I have been itching to kill you."

Kagome was shocked; Why would he want to kill me?

"Why?" she stammered.

Manarku's eyes hardened, "I do not need to explain myself to you!" And with that he leaped into the air with teeth barred and claws extended. The tip of the arrow flashed in the light as she brought it up and waited till Manarku was right above her when she shot.

The arrow whizzed through the and met it's target. It pierced up through the soft part of the jaw and came out the other side. Blood splattered her face as the catamount fell lifelessly on top of her.

"Kagome!" screamed Sango, Shippo and Miroku in unison. Sango tried to run past Marashi but was met with a strike of his powerful paw. She fell heavily to the ground and was bleeding profusely from her shoulder.

"Sango!" screamed Miroku. He ran to Sango's side and almost slipped in the blood that had already begun to surround her body. With shaking hands he grabbed the unconscious Sango's shoulder and tried to apply pressure to it while trying to rip of a piece of his clothing. Shippo watched helplessly in shock as Sango's life blood was seeping out. He shook himself and walk over to Miroku and helped him tear a large strip of clothing. Shippo took the strip and with Miroku's help, successfully wrapped her shoulder tightly with it. It slowed down the bleeding, but did not stop it. If they did not get her out of here soon she might just bleed to death.

The monk sat there, his anger boiling close to the peak. How dare he hurt the woman he loved the woman he was trying to convince to have his children. This could not let this stand he had to do something, he had to get revenge for Sango.

He stood up slowly, his back facing the bear. His fists clenched in front of him he spoke with in a steady, dangerous tone. "You will pay for what you have done! I will bring justice, you will not get away with hurting my woman."

This made Marashi laugh, "What could you possibly do to me." Miroku slowly unwrapped the prayer beads on his right hand.

"Wrong answer." said Miroku, in a dark voice which made Marashi stop in mid laugh.

Miroku spun around with his palm out in front of him. "WIND TUNNEL" he screamed as the air around the black hole in his hand started to spin and suck.

The bear's eyes went wide and he dug his nails into the ground but he wasn't strong enough. His howl of rage and fear could be heard as he was sucked in alive.

He closed his hand and quickly wrapped his hand with the prayer beads. Then he ran over to the still trapped Kagome.

Kagome was still squirming under the weight of the dead catamount that was on top of her. Footsteps came to her ear as Miroku approached.

"Are you alright?" he asked bending down to heave the big cat off of her.

"I will be once you can get this thing off me."

Together the lifeless catamount rolled easily off and Kagome sat up heaving. Her lungs ached with every draw of breath and her ears rang from the pressure but the could still hear the sharp clap of two hands coming together. She looked up and saw the Karanome was clapping with a smile on her face.

"Well done. Very well done. I can see that its going to take more to kill you off. Hmmmm, what shall I try next? Oh!" she said snapping her fingers "I know of just the thing!" She then turned to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha my pet, take care of them, but don't waste too much of her blood. I need it to break the spell along with yours, but we can worry about that later."

Inuyasha bowed his head and without a sound, stepped off of the dais and drew his sword but was surprised when it did not grow in size. He humphed and threw his sword aside.
"I don't need a lousy sword to kill you. I'll just use my hands." he growled while cracking his fingers he ran at Kagome with his claws raised. "SIT!" cried Kagome but with no responding thud from the half demon. Kagome grabbed for her bow and quickly cocked it and fired. "Forgive me, Inuyasha" she whispered with her head down. Again the arrow whizzed through the air and found it's target.

The half demon hesitated as the arrow struck home but quickly recovered as he pulled the bloodied staff out of his stomach.

He came at her again, even angrier now that he had been wounded. Inuyasha brought his hand down to strike Kagome across her throat but was again intervened but this time by Miroku. The monk had stopped the deadly strike with his staff when he leaped in front of Kagome.

"I will not let you harm another of my women."

This threat angered Inuyasha.

He grabbed the opposing staff and monk and threw them both against the wall. Miroku's head hit the stone wall and his body slide limply to the floor next to Sango.

"Anyone else wants to challenge me!" he snapped while looking at the shivering little fox demon.

Kagome followed to where Inuyasha was looking and saw Shippo getting ready to say "Fox Fire."

"No! Shippo, don't! Inuyasha will kill you! He's not well!" Kagome cried at Shippo and turned to the crouching Kirara. "And not you either. I can do this myself." She then turned back to Inuyasha. "SIT BOY!" but still no response.

Inuyasha laughed, "Haven't you notice already you little wench that that doesn't work on me!"

He was so close now that she could fell his warm breath on her face and it was then that Kagome noticed the necklace was glowing blue. Karanome must have put a spell on Inuyasha's necklace to make it where she can control him. Maybe if I can somehow get it off...

"Don't even think about it!" snapped Inuyasha as if he could read her mind. He raised his hand again for the final strike, but Kagome was readied for him. She fell to her knees and slid between his legs. When she was on the other side she quickly grabbed Inuyasha's ankles. She tugged with all her might and watched happily as he fell on his face. Leaping to her feet she ran over, Inuyasha was pushing himself off the ground, and jumped on his back which knocked him back down.

"Get off me you little bitch!" he mumbled through stone.

Kagome spread her knees apart so that she was straddling him. With one hand she reached for an arrow and with the other she lifted the necklace. Please let me be right... she begged.

With the sharp metal part she stabbed in between two beads, but with no success. She tried again but still nothing and by then Inuyasha was getting back up along with her on his back.

"Wench I don't know what you're trying to pull, but it ain't happening." snared the half demon.

Tears came to Kagome's eyes, she blinked them away. "Inuyasha! I love you!" and she pulled on the necklace with both hands. A single tear ran down her cheek and fell from her chin onto the necklace she was still holding.

It splattered onto the black bead and started to glow pink which then spread to the whole necklace.

Then it just...

(A/N) Sorry you'll have to what for the next chapter to see what happens. I'm so evil.

Muahahaha

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