When Night Falls

Disclaimer: Despite what Nikolai says, I don't own Inuyasha. (For those of you who don't know, Nikolai is my evil Russian second personality, HE"S NOT TO BE TRUSTED!)

Hi! Sorry 'bout the wait. I absolutley hated my first draft of this and wrote it over. Plus I became rather obsessed with Harry Potter for a little while after reading the book (I've actually started with a fanfic on that, but I don't know if I want to post it or not yet). Oh, more news. Unfortunately, because of vacation, I will be unable to update next week. I know, it's sad. Anyway, ON TO REVIEWS!

Ninalee-chan: Has a thing for Sango? Really? Naw, he just understands the Miroku has a thing for Sango.

Veglma: Oho, you'll see more of him allright! When? I ain't tellin'!

AngelofMusic516: Okey-dokey! Dang, you make me wish I wasn't going on vacation next week... now I feel all guilty that I can't update!

Medlii: Yes, I wanted to leave Miroku's ally in the dark a bit, but that is because even Miroku doesn't understand him much yet. But I assure you, he will play a large role in chapters to come. I hope this fight is interesting!

Moonyme: Thanks much! I like to slip a little bit of humor in here and there, for instance, in this chapter you'll find Kaze referenced to (in my mind) some quite comical things. Sorry I took so long with the update, but I want to make this story as good as I can for all you wonderful reviewers!

Thanks for the kindreviews, and remember, don't sneeze, fart, and burp and the same time. You'll blow up. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION!

Chapter 8:IFeel Like Suffocating

Inuyasha stared down his new opponent, breathing heavily.

"Out of breath already, are you?" taunted Kaze, a sinister glint playing at the corner of his eye. "Pity, after all I've heard about you…"

"SHUT UP!" yelled Inuyasha, who was now using his Tetsusaiga for support. "What the hell did you do to me?"

"Why should I give away my secrets? I suppose you'll just have to figure out this yourself."

Inuyasha grunted. What was happening to him? He dodged one attack and was already out of breath. The answer hit him like a ton of bricks. "You… you… thinned the air!" he gasped.

"Well, it appears you are a bit smarter than I gave you credit for! Let's see how well you fight with one half the normal oxygen intake!"

Breathing deeply, Inuyasha flung the Tetsusaiga onto his shoulder. It seemed awful heavy all of a sudden. "You're forgetting something," he grinned, "It'll be harder for you to breath too."

Kaze chuckled. "Not likely. For years I trained on the highest mountains of the continent, I am used to this lack of air."

"I'm sick of talking," growled Inuyasha, "let's fight!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, In a hurry I see, oh well, if you insist." From his back, Kaze pulled a large paper umbrella, which he opened by swinging it around his body.

With a deep grunt, Inuyasha held his Tetsusaiga at ready and charged Kaze. Just as he was about to hit him, however, Kaze shot straight up into the air, carried by his umbrella.

"Get down here!" snarled Inuyasha.

"As you wish," smirked Kaze. His umbrella collapsed and became Kaze shifted it below him so he became, essentially, a spear.

Inuyasha just escaped being impaled as he jumped to the side a the last moment. Dust had risen up from the place Kaze had landed, effectively obscuring his view. All of a sudden a palm came flying out of the cloud and struck Inuyasha in the chest. A blast of wind issued from it and Inuyasha was flying backwards. He hit the ground hard and skidded to a halt at Kagome's feet. Wheezing and coughing he staggered upright, a look of severe pain plastered across his face.

"Oh my," worried Kagome, "Inuyasha, are you allright?"

"He… he knocked the wind… right outta me," Inuyasha gasped, still desperately trying to catch his breath.

"HIRAIKOTSU!" Kagome's hair was tossed forward as the giant boomerang passed by just inches to her right side. But then, with a gust of wind, it was hurtling right back at her. With a scream Kagome ducked below the whirring bone.

"Watch out Sango!" she yelled to the person who had thrown the Hiraikotsu. Thankfully, the boomerang was knocked out of the air by Miroku's staff before it could hit the unready Taijiya.

"Thanks Houshi-sama," she said to the monk.

"No problem…" he coughed, still suffering slightly from his injuries and even more so by the lack of air.

Kagome, who by this point knew better than to fire her arrows, ran back to join Miroku and Sango whilst Inuyasha jumped right back into battle with Kaze.

"You should be careful," Kagome said to Miroku, "you're still not completely over your injuries."

"I'm fine," he insisted, "but now we must concentrate on the task at hand, how do we beat this guy?"

"I'm not sure," muttered Sango, "how does one stop the wind?"

"Good question," Kagome sighed.

"Well, I'm going to help Inuyasha," she said, pulling out her wakazashi and charging forward.

"We should go help them…" said Miroku.

Kagome nodded, even though she knew she wouldn't be of much assistance without her arrows. With Miroku, she ran in to join the fray. The lack of oxygen hit her almost instantly, and she found herself tiring almost twice as quickly. Yet, with the four of them in battle at the same time, they appeared to be making progress against Kaze. Inuyasha seemed to have limitless stores of energy, slashing madly at the wind mage despite his obvious pain. Sango, having trained for years in physical combat, was also nearly tireless, and with her speed managed to get in very close range to Kaze, only to be blown back and needing to rush in. Miroku, however, was obviously struggling, his hair matted to his face with sweat, and his heavy robes slowing him down considerably. But fatigue was beginning to show on Kaze also, his reactions becoming more sluggish, and when Sango was able to inflict a long gash on his cheek an expression of annoyance spread over his features.

"It's seems I underestimated you," he growled, showing anger for the first time, "but let's see hoe you fair with one fourth the normal air!"

Almost immediately everyone felt a tug on their lungs as they gasped desperately to force even the tiniest amount of oxygen into their bodies. Oddly enough, however, the winds whipping around them weakened severely. That's when it struck Miroku. While it was harder for them to fight, if there was less air, there was less that Kaze could manipulate into wind. His greatest power was his greatest weakness, and Miroku waisted no time in telling this to his companions. Smiles of confidence appeared on their battle-weary faces as opportunity showed itself.

"And I'm willing to bet Kaze can't take much of a hit," grinned Inuyasha, "He's been defending this whole battle."

"So hit him once," mused Sango, "and he goes down."

The battle was on once more, yet hitting Kaze proved harder said than done. His umbrella yanked him left and right away from any attack as he waited for his attackers to become weary to the point he could knock them over with the slightest breath. It did not take Kagome long to realize that her arrows were effective for catching Kaze off guard and, possibly, leading him into an assault by one of her companions. Suddenly they heard a thump and turned to see Miroku sprawled out on the ground, clearly exhausted. He was quick to lift himself to his feet however, and with a grunt ripped off his heavy robes, leaving him only in his black pants. A great amount of energy seemed to return to him and he dashed in to attempt a strike on the flailing mage. Sango however, seemed quite distracted by the cameo of Miroku's rarely-shown abs, and ended up on the receiving end of a shot off wind which sent her flying backwards, if only to shoot back, carried on a enraged Kirara.

Then it happened. Kagome fired an arrow, narrowly missing Kaze's head. He turned on impulse to see his attacker, but when he turned he found himself face to face with a grinning hanyou. Inuyasha wasted no time punching him right in his ugly mug. This sent the wind mage tumbling backwards over the ground a good thirty feet. The wind-inclined midget rose to his feet looking quite flustered.

"Damn you!" he hissed venomously, "But you won't be so cocky when I take away ALL OF YOUR AIR!"

And the wind stopped.

Kaze's eyes widened realizing his fatal mistake. "Whoah shi-!" The Kaze no Kizu tore up the ground as it approached him. Desperately he tried to pick up the wind, but alas he could not in time, and let out a blood-curdling scream as his body was battered ruthlessly.

Suddenly the air returned, much to the relief of our oxygen-starved heroes. Kagome never thought air tasted so good. Flanked by his companions, Inuyasha made his way towards the spread-eagled body of Kaze. The wind mage lifted his head wearily to watch their approach, fear in his eyes.

"So," smirked Inuyasha, Tetsusaiga in hand, "have any last words?"

"Yes," groaned Kaze, his face shifting quickly to one of glee, "see you in hell!"

Inyasha gasped as the wind at his feet picked up. Before he could say anything, he, along with his friends, were swept high in the air and found themselves in a swirling cyclone. Urgently he reached for the hand of Kagome next to him, but could not as they were ripped mercilessly away from her. Miroku and Sango found themselves in a similar situation.

"Sango!" yelled Miroku, clutching her hand tightly, "Don't let go!"

But their hands, already drenched in sweat, slipped easily from each other grasp.

"HOUSHI-SAMA!" yelled Sango as the raging winds tore him from her vision. Something wet hit her in the face, and somehow beyond her, she instantly knewit was one of Miroku's tears. Then, everything went black.

From his place on the ground, Kaze chuckled. "Thought they could get away…" Then his head lolled back and life left his body. In the darkness a new figure appeared next to his. It kneeled down, one hand resting on the dead mage's chest.

"You fought well brother," the figure spoke, a hint of sorrow in its voice, "But your death was not in vain, for what was your power will now be mine."

And with that, the newcomer proceeded to consume the body of his deceased brother, and not until the last drop of blood was licked from the bare bones did the figure rise, a superior grin on its face. Then the wind picked up and carried it away.

End Chapter 8

Allright, there you go! Expect my next update in 1 1/2 to two weeks!

Please review!