Chapter 7 - Iokji, the Snake Demon
Serena faced Iokji with a blank face. Iokji grinned at her, showing his fangs in the process. His demented smile sent shivers down Serena's spine, but she ignored it. He started to slowly walk towards her, but she held her ground.
"You are not afraid of me?" Iokji asked.
"No way, Jose," she replied. Iokji was confused by her comment, but he understood the meaning of it.
"Thossse who show no fear will die," he said, the grin still on his face.
"Maybe. But not today," she said. Iokji stopped grinning and charged at her. Serena didn't move a muscle and kept her eyes on the attacking demon.
"Serena! Move!" Kagome yelled. Serena nodded, but didn't turn her head. Iokji reached her and start to raise his left arm. Serena dodged his attack and his fist plowed into the ground. He looked at her and snarled.
"What? Am I too fast for you?" she taunted. He rushed toward her, raising his left arm again. She dodged his fist for a second time, but then he swung his right arm toward her. She put her left arm up and blocked his blow. Iokji looked shocked. Serena, taking advantage of this, thrust her sword into his stomach. He staggered backwards and she dashed away from him.
"You'll pay for that, child!" Iokji screeched. Serena held her sword up, preparing for another attack. Iokji opened his mouth wide and a strong wind started to come from it. Serena struggled against it, but she could not beat it. The wind blew her sword from her hands.
"You are no match for me without your sssword," he cackled.
"You think so?" she asked. Without warning, she sprung towards Iokji. Before he could react, she delivered a spinning kick to his head. He wobbled around like a drunk and Serena delivered a second kick to his gut. As she prepared to attack him again, he grabbed her approaching foot and flipped her. She headed toward the ground headfirst and landed in a handstand.
"Awesome!" Shippo exclaimed. The others expressed their agreement. Maybe she'll actually win this fight, Kagome thought. They all watched anxiously as the battle continued.
Serena was still in a handstand when Iokji rushed at her. She thrust her feet upward and hit him in the chin. He grabbed his jaw and Serena saw blood coming from it. She flipped onto her feet and punched Iokji in the stomach where she had cut him earlier. Her hand came back bloody, but Iokji was doubled over in pain. Serena grinned. I'm starting to get to him. He's injured. I can win this! She thought.
The others were cheering her on and she moved to hit Iokji again. He grabbed her arm and pushed her backward. She stumbled over a tree root and fell on her butt. Iokji leaped at her and caught her as she scrambled to get away. He grabbed her by her shoulders and pushed her against the tree. He leaned toward the left side of her neck. She struggled against him, but it was to no avail. His grip was too tight. She tried to kick him, but his legs were pressed against hers. Serena was trapped. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as Iokji sunk his teeth in. Her eyes went wide as she felt the blood flow down her shoulder. As Iokji lifted his head, she thrust hers forward and head-butted him. He fell backward and Serena ran away from him. She held the side of her neck, trying desperately to staunch the flow of blood. The blood started to slow when Serena suddenly grew lightheaded. The world is spinning. She thought dizzily. She fell face-first into the ground and didn't move. The earth around her turned red as the blood dripped slowly from her.
"Serena!" Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo yelled. Inu-Yasha punched his fist against the barrier, but it didn't budge. Damn! We can't help her. She really is going to die if we don't help. Inu-Yasha thought.
Naraku once again watched the group through Kanna's mirror. As the battle unfolded, he chuckled. That girl certainly has a fiery spirit. This is sure to be interesting.
He watched silently until Iokji bit Serena and she collapsed.
"She is weaker than I thought. Perhaps she will die," he said. Then he turned his attention back to the mirror. Either way, Iokji will have served his purpose.
"Do you sssee, girl? Do you sssee it now? I am the unbeatable one here." Iokji grinned as he spoke. Serena rolled over onto her back with a tiny moan. "You are just a weak little girl playing a hero. You are nothing compared to me!"
"Will you…kindly shove it!" Serena spat, propping herself up on her elbows. Iokji looked at her in surprise.
"You…you ssshould be dead!" he screamed. Serena flashed him a half-grin.
"Always like to keep an audience guessing," she said. The others were relieved that she was not dead, but that did not mean she was out of danger. Iokji advanced towards her, angered by her recovery. She started scooting backwards. She reached a tree and felt the barrier against her back. She gulped and grasped the root next to her. She felt a sharp edge and looked down. It was her sword blade. She gripped the hilt and pulled it close to her.
All the while, Iokji had been approaching her. Now, seeing that she was trapped against the barrier, he ran forward, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Serena squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself. Iokji stood over her and raised his left arm. Droplets of blood from his stomach wound fell on Serena's face. Here goes everything. She thought.
Just as he was about to strike, Serena thrust the sword upward, never opening her eyes. Iokji gasped and pulled away from Serena. She still held the sword upward, her grip on it unbreakable. Not feeling Iokji's demon aura anymore, she lowered the blade and opened her eyes.
Iokji had fallen on the ground, his eyes open and unmoving. His chest bled onto the grass, turning it crimson. As Serena watched, his body dissolved into light, which then disappeared. The barrier shimmered and then collapsed. The gang rushed toward Serena as she slowly stood up.
"Serena! Are you okay?" Sango asked, reaching her first. Serena leaned against the tree and watched as the others swarmed around her.
"I'm…I'll be fine," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"But you're hurt," Miroku said.
"And you're bleeding from your neck," Shippo added. Serena reached her hand up and gingerly touched the left side of her neck. She looked at her hand. Her fingertips had just a bit of blood on them.
"Its almost stopped. I'll be fine," Serena insisted. Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Miroku looked doubtful. Inu-Yasha suddenly stormed over to her and swung her into his arms. He had one arm under her knees and the other under her back. Before Serena could protest, he was carrying her back to the hut.
"Put me down!" she screeched.
"No," Inu-Yasha said stubbornly. The others ran after them.
"Put me down NOW!" Serena shouted. Inu-Yasha looked down at her, but he kept walking.
"You're injured and you need to treat your wounds. You're being stubborn," he said.
"Look who's talking," Serena replied bitterly. "Now put me down. I can walk."
"Without falling on your ass?" Inu-Yasha asked.
"…probably not," she admitted.
"Then shut up." They reached the hut and went inside. Inu-Yasha laid her down on the floor and the others rushed in. Kagome and Sango started bandaging her neck. Inu-Yasha left and Serena fell asleep.
Naraku put the mirror down. That was not what I expected. She is a very talented fighter. Kagura entered and he looked at her.
"How did Iokji fare?" she asked.
"He is dead." He spoke without looking at Kagura.
"And what of the girl?" she asked.
"She is a skilled fighter. But she is not a threat to me. Now, leave," he ordered.
"Yes, my lord," she said, grimacing at her own words. If she is not a threat to him, then I cannot use her.
In the morning, Serena awoke in great pain. Her neck had grown stiff, as had her left wrist. She sat up, her blanket sliding into her lap, and rubbed her neck. She unwrapped her wrist from the ace bandage, which had gotten bloody during her fight with Iokji. She flexed her wrist a bit and was surprised to find that it barely hurt. It must be almost healed. She thought.
Serena went to stand up when she noticed the pile of fabric in her lap was bright red. She picked it up and realized it was Inu-Yasha's cloak. Why is he being so nice lately? She thought. She put the cloak down and stood up. She grabbed her bag and went to another room to change. When she came back, she had on a tight-fitting yellow t-shirt that said "I'm so great I'm jealous of myself." Serena also wore a pair of black jeans with her sneakers and her belt with her sword on it. She walked to the door and paused. She grabbed Inu-Yasha's cloak and exited the hut.
She looked around and smiled. The sun shone on everything, erasing all trace of the battle the night before. She spotted Inu-Yasha, who was sitting up, asleep, next to the door to the cottage. His hand clutched the sword hilt on his belt. He must have been up all night waiting in case more demons showed up. She thought as she walked toward him. His eyes sprang open as she approached and he stared at her. Serena tossed his cloak in his face and she sat down next to him.
"Morning," she said as he put the cloak back on.
"Whatever," he replied, looking toward the trees.
"Thank you," she said, staring at him. He turned to look at her.
"For what?" he asked.
"For insisting that I let Kagome bandage my neck," she said.
"Feh. You had lost a lot of blood. I didn't want you to pass out again," Inu-Yasha said, looking away from her again.
"Well, thanks anyway," Serena said, a smile on her face. He noticed her expression.
"What the hell are you so happy about?" he asked.
"Nothing, really. It's just such a beautiful day," she said.
"Feh," Inu-Yasha said, standing up. "I think I'll go wake the others. We have jewel shards to find." He walked into the hut.
An hour later, everyone had eaten and they had started off on their journey once again. Shippo was using his fox magic to try and impress Serena, while Miroku was hitting on Sango. But they could barely hear themselves over the argument that Kagome was having with Inu-Yasha.
"Why the hell do you want to go back! You just got here!" Inu-Yasha shouted.
"I told you, I have a big test on Monday," Kagome tried to explain.
"Well why do you want to head back today?" he asked.
"Because, today is Friday and I need time to study," she said. Before Inu-Yasha could reply to Kagome, Serena piped up.
"I need to go back too. I need to get more clothes and shit," she said. Inu-Yasha was about to scream at both of them when Miroku interrupted.
"Perhaps it is a good idea to head back to Kaede's village. After the past few days, we all need a rest," Miroku said. Shippo and Sango nodded.
"Feh…whatever," Inu-Yasha said, storming off in the direction they had come. The others turned and followed him at a much slower pace.
"Hey, Serena?" Kagome asked, walking alongside her cousin.
"What?"
"Are you going to come to school with me on Monday?" Kagome asked.
"No," Serena replied. Kagome looked surprised.
"Why not?" she asked.
"You're fifteen. You still go to middle school. I'm sixteen. I'm already in high school," Serena answered.
"Really? Were the entrance exams easy?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know. Didn't have to take 'em in the US and I didn't have to take 'em here cause I was already in high school in New Hampshire," she explained.
"Oh," Kagome said, blushing. "I thought you were my age."
"It's okay. I'm close enough. I just turned sixteen a few weeks ago." Miroku had listened to this conversation earnestly and now stood in front of Serena.
"You are a very mature young lady. And sixteen is more than old enough to…bear my child," he said, hinting to Serena. She looked back at Sango.
"Can I borrow your Boomerang Bone?" she asked.
"Sure," Sango said, reaching for it. Miroku's face went pale and he ran after Inu-Yasha.
"Wait up, Inu-Yasha!" he yelled. Sango, Kagome, Serena, and Shippo burst out laughing. They ran after Miroku and Inu-Yasha.
"Get back here, Miroku. I wanna kick your ass!" Serena yelled between laughs.
Elsewhere, a trio of wolf demons were approaching the forest near Kaede's village.
"I smell her," the black-haired one said to his two companions. He rushed off in a tornado-like wind. The other two chased after him.
"Slow down, Koga!" they said as one.