Chapter 4-Into the mind of the Devil
Kikyo walked into the house first followed by Kaede with Sango right behind her since she didn't want the undead priestess trying anything that would harm Inuyasha. However, for the undead priestess the first thing she did do when she saw Inuyasha asleep was gasp at his new form and the power he was releasing while he was sleeping. Realizing she was staring and what she was doing Kikyo composed herself and gracefully moved over to the sleeping body of Inuyasha, knelt down, and began examining his upper body, which she noticed was half bandaged while the other half showed remains of self inflicted wounds. "Why would you purposely hurt yourself like that Inuyasha?" Kikyo had unknowingly said out loud.
"I can answer that," said Kanna as she walked in not too long after hearing Kikyo gasp to make sure her master was all right.
Kikyo turned her head to face to Kanna who was holding her mirror, which glowed lightly to then show what had happened to Inuyasha in the Hills of Forbiddance. Kikyo found herself gasping once more at seeing Inuyasha mutilate himself after being hit by the un-holy arrow. When it was over the undead priestess turned to see Inuyasha was not wearing the rosary Kagome used to contain him. She realized that Inuyasha had used the entire moment he was in pain to break free from the necklace as well as numb the pain that tried to drive him insane. "I see and the incredible power Inuyasha wields is from that un-holy arrow that is now absorbed itself into his heart," said Kikyo whose neutral voice sounded somewhat sadden.
"Kagome and Miroku believe that Naraku might have some unknown influence on Inuyasha though Kanna here clearly deny it. They both wanted me to ask you to search Inuyasha's mind to see if any trace of Naraku exist within him," said Kaede out of nowhere causing Sango, Kanna, and Kikyo to look surprised by this.
"Kaede!" said Sango pleadingly, but Kaede raised a hand to Sango to stop any further argument or protest.
"I agreed not to put a rosary on him like last time Sango, but I never said that I trusted Inuyasha in regards to his new form and powers...regardless of what Kanna says or shows otherwise," said Kaede making Kanna's eyes droop slowly with sadness by the constant distrust that still existed with her being an incarnation of Naraku's.
"I will try sister, but his powers are strong and I believe when he is fully healed he will be much stronger then I or any other being for that matter," said Kikyo as put her hand down slowly to Inuyasha face before parting some silver hair from his now healed face.
She was just about to touch his face when a demon clawed hand grabbed it and a certain pair of red eyes with green pupils looked at her. This caused the undead priestess to be momentarily frightened by Inuyasha's appearance causing her to move back rather quickly while he slowly got up. She watched as did the others in the room as he stretched his well muscled arms as his muscled chest and upper body moved to his rhythm like stretching as well. In the process the bandages Kanna had placed on Inuyasha had ripped revealing his wounds had healed and were all practically none existent. In a single motion he was up on his feet with a smile on his face that exposed a rather aligned demon teeth that seemed to scream out "I bite". "Hello Kikyo. I do believe it had been sometime since last we met with each other...so why are you here now?" said Inuyasha whose dark voice went sweet to curious and threatening.
Kikyo couldn't answer him at first because she felt like she didn't know him anymore after seeing his full physic that was his upper body. Several minutes had passed and Kikyo had not answered his question and when she realized this she looked right into his demon eyes and felt fear in her body for what seemed so long ago. "Inuyasha...I...I...," said Kikyo as she couldn't even give a straight answer to him due to his demonic eyes power that to seemed to paralysis her very train of thought...or was it she still love him.
"You were going to access my mind weren't you? To see if Naraku might somehow have some influence over my head...correct?" said Inuyasha causing Kikyo to nod.
"I told them not to Inuyasha, but...," said Sango, but Inuyasha raised his hand causing immediate silence.
"I know Sango. You couldn't hide that fact from me even if you wanted to, which I'm glad you didn't because I would have been more angry then I am now," said Inuyasha as he turned from Sango to Kikyo who took a step back.
"Inuyasha I...," said Kikyo, but was interrupted by Inuyasha.
"Save it Kikyo. You never asked me if I wanted you in my head and going through things that I don't want you too. Of course it doesn't really matter I suppose since the moment Kikyo did enter my mind had I let her I would her out...and with add force as an extra good measure to let you all know my mind is untouchable," sad Inuyasha as he poked the side of his head several times.
"I disagree," said a voice from behind that was Koga who had grabbed Sango by the neck so fast the demon slayer nearly blacked out from the force in itself.
Before anyone, but Inuyasha could comprehend what had happened Kagome and Miroku cam in with Kagome point an arrow at Kanna's head several inches away from it. Miroku had his holy staff block Kaede from intervening as well as keep Kilala and Shippo at bay too. "Koga. I would have thought from the last attack I delivered on you would have thought twice before doing something this foolish," said Inuyasha whose smile increased slightly.
"Shut up mutt! Kikyo is going inside your head and find out if you truly are under that filth Naraku's influence. I don't believe for a second that he would do THIS to you without trying to get you to do something for him," said Koga whose claws now covered half of Sango's face making her worry considerably while Kilala growled at the wolf.
"Yeah. I say if you have nothing to hide then let Kikyo in you mind. If you don't I'll blast Kanna with my arrow at this close range that not even she can use her mirror to block it," said Kagome as she got ready to fire.
Inuyasha just laughed at this finding their threats amusing rather then displeasing. "And here I thought things were going to get dull around here. All right Kagome I'll be fair and let Kikyo and ONLY Kikyo into my mind, but should you...harm ANY...of them...I'll make you beg for the depths of hell when I get through with all of you," said Inuyasha threateningly who stood a little more straighter then before as if to prove a point.
"Good. Now for an added good measure," said Koga who grabbed Sango giant boomerang and threw it at Inuyasha whose body was pinned down by the V-curve that boxed in his arms to prevent movement.
"A lot of good that will do you Koga, but none the less I'll humor you despite what you think of me being a servant of Naraku," said Inuyasha as he looked from Koga was with his back to a wall to Kikyo who he could tell was reluctant to go into his mind with her powers.
"Inuyasha...I...I'll be gentle I promise," said Kikyo as she raised her hand to his head and prepared to enter his mind.
"Don't be...it makes you seem like your getting soft. Besides Kikyo...my mind may not be so gentle when you enter it," said Inuyasha as her hand touched his face gently before summoning her powers to link her mind and to enter his.
(In Inuyasha's mind)
Kikyo found the trip go faster then she expected as she traveled through what seemed like a blue light that was a mental form of limbo or bridge to his mind. When she had reached Inuyasha's mind she didn't know what to expect from her former love, but only that she may not like what she saw. What she saw was darkness as well as felt dampness like a dreary cave with a white mist below that covered her feet where she stood. "Something tells me I'm going to have to find what I'm searching for in your mind Inuyasha," said Kikyo out loud hoping some part of Inuyasha would guide her through her quest.
What she got was less then helpful if not threatening as a sign appeared in front of her causing her to shiver slightly when she read it. "Abandon all hope...you who enter here," said a voice inside Inuyasha mind that startled the undead priestess when she heard.
"Inuyasha?" said Kikyo curious as well as worried since she knew what ever happened in Inuyasha mind would happen to her outside if she went too far into his mind.
"To a degree...yes, but don't get too attached to me for your destination is in front of you. Just so you know...you were warned for the Gates of Hell are open night and day," said the voice as a steel barred gate appeared and opened in front of Kikyo who found herself hesitant to go forward.
What surprised Kikyo even more was a shadow that crept up form behind her that has suddenly appeared out of nowhere and shoved her in before the gate doors slammed shut behind her with a "BANG". "Inuyasha?" said Kikyo surprised and even more so when the shadow that pushed her had vanished as it had came.
Kikyo got silence in response and decided she should continue on despite feeling she had been drawn into some type of trap. As she walked she saw many doors with locks on them each one with the title of a different memory of a single day, including the one marked "Kikyo's Betrayal". Kikyo stopped at that door and wondered if she should make an attempt to open the door or let it stay locked. Out of fear and respect she let it stay locked since she didn't need to remind herself or Inuyasha of old wounds that needed to stay locked up.
She walked down the corridor of memories stored in doors some had blood oozing out of them while others had chains with locks on them meaning that they stay locked. Some had screams of pain and agony echoing from them that seemed to never end that ranged from childhood to the more recent ones, which she tried her hardest to ignore even with a sign half way through that read "The torture of a bad conscious is the hell of a living soul". She finally went through the last column of memories and found a door with no identification on it except the words "Enter at your own risk Kikyo".
Deciding she had gotten this far without so much as an attack she opened the door and entered the room to find a long black hared, fire rat wearing, human looking Inuyasha looking back at her with a soft caring smile on his face. "Hello Kikyo. Long time no see. Oh wait...you never saw me in this form before have you?" said Inuyasha as if made a mistake, but Kikyo noticed a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Inuyasha...you're human? How? Is this possible...even in your mind?" said Kikyo who found herself almost as speechless as before.
"Being a priestess I thought you would have known that half-demons become human once a month for one night when all their demon powers leave them. I was no exception considering I am or rather was a half-demon though technically...I think I'm something else now," said Inuyasha who shrugged at the thought of what to classify himself as.
"I had heard rumors about that from other villages about half-demons, but I found little reason to believe in such things," said Kikyo who felt more calm and control of herself now then before.
"Well as long as you're here I might as well tell you that even though you traveled here into my mind as a whole I'm sorry to disappoint you and the other when I say there is no presence of Naraku in here what so ever," said human Inuyasha casually.
"I would like to see that for myself if you don't mind," said Kikyo who couldn't see what she had to risk by being in this room.
"Oh I don't mind, its my OTHER half...that minds Kikyo and so far he feels he's been patient with you long enough to give some time to leave here before he comes looking for you. When that happens you know as well as I do that whatever happens here will happen to you out their," said human Inuyasha point to a pair of blood red oval spheres that showed what Inuyasha saw through his eyes.
Kikyo turned to see through the I saw Koga arguing with Shippo about why half-breeds were so weak that they didn't deserve to live and should be exterminated. Sango was apparently trying to fight off Koga who still had her by the neck. Kagome still had her arrow trained on Kanna though Kikyo could see Kagome's eyes switch momentarily ever so often from Kanna to Inuyasha with a look to kill him with the arrow instead of Kanna. "Tell me...Inuyasha why are they acting like this towards you?" said Kikyo who didn't truly understand the nature of the situation between him and her reincarnation.
"She...Kagome wants me as whole dead and buried as you once did when you thought I had betrayed you so long ago," said human Inuyasha with sadness in his voice and eyes that Kikyo clearly saw.
"Inuyasha...I...didn't mean it...it to...," said Kikyo, but was interrupted by a voice more terrifying then the first one that spoke to her when she first enter Inuyasha's mind.
"SILENCE! KAGOME LIKE YOU TRIED TO KILL ME KIKYO! BUT AS YOU WELL KNOW...I'M THE ONE, WHO DOES THE KILLING! GET OUT KIKYO! GET OUT AND STAY OUT!" said the demonic voice as two demonic eyes and teeth appeared above the human version of Inuyasha.
(Back into reality)
Before Kikyo knew what was happening she was picked up by an invisible force and sent flying out all the places she traveled up to that point till she was flown out of Inuyasha's mind and into her own with such force her physical body was flung backwards getting everyone's attention. "What the hell happened?" said Miroku and Koga a the same time.
By this time Inuyasha knocked away Sango's boomerang like it was nothing with an angry look on his face. "My patience wore thin...that's what happened," said Inuyasha as he turned his head to face the three people other then Naraku that wanted him dead with prejudice.
"That's not all what happened now talk or we start causing harm," said Koga in a very threatening voice.
Inuyasha just smiled before Koga could react Inuyasha was a blur of speed as he elbowed Koga in the face, then a sweeping kick to Kagome, and then a swift uppercut to Miroku sending his head into the ceiling. "Kanna. I want you to take care of Sango, Shippo, and Kilala for me while I'm away," said Inuyasha and saw his loyal servant nod before he leaped through the ceiling and into the tree line.
"Inuyasha! Kilala transform were going after him," said Sango and without another moment too soon Kilala was big and taking to the sky with Sango on her back.
"Now do you see Sango? Now do you see why Inuyasha has to die?" yelled Miroku through the chaos and falling rubble of the little house.
Sango ignore him as Kilala tried to keep up with Inuyasha's speed through the tree tops while she was in the air. "Come on Miroku, Koga, and Kikyo if we don't stop and kill Inuyasha then were just lining up to be destroyed," said Kagome as she took her bow with arrows and chased after Sango and Inuyasha on foot with the other right behind her.
"Before this is over monk I intend for you to tell me everything," said Kikyo as she grabbed his arm and stared right into his eyes causing him to feel a prick of fear on his neck.
"Yes Priestess Kikyo I will reveal all in do time to you before this ordeal is over," said Miroku as the two picked up speed to catch up with the others.
Shippo tried to intervene, but Kanna stopped him with her mirror sending the little fox demon back several feet. What are you doing? I have to go after them," said Shippo who was slightly confused.
"Master Inuyasha said to take care of Sango, Kilala, and you Shippo, but the others are not here for me to protect. If you go out their to stop them you will be endanger and I cannot disobey my master," said Kanna calmly as before.
"But the others are in trouble so why not protect them as well?" said Shippo angrily.
"Master Inuyasha will protect them little one do not worry. I have faith in my master's abilities as should you," said Kanna whose voice seemed to echo confidence in her new master.
"I hope so Kanna. For Inuyasha's sake as well as the others," said Shippo and it was then Kanna new the little fox boy was hoping for something that still echoed in his heart, but what it was she couldn't tell except it involved Inuyasha and another her master held dear to his heart.
(In the forest)
Inuyasha moved with only half speed since going full speed wouldn't be any fun with the others chasing him to stop his running or to kill him. It really made no difference since he preferred a little excitement with all that has happened with him and it being boring up till now with the considerable spike of adrenaline. Inuyasha looked up occasionally to see Kilala with Sango who had her weapon with her, which meant the others wouldn't be that far behind. "Good. It's about time things picked up around here and I know just how to do it," said Inuyasha out loud as an arrow whizzed passed his head making him smile even more.
Kagome was on Koga's back trying to get a clear shot, but the terrain and Koga's own wind was throwing off her aim causing her to miss with every shot she fired. "Koga hold still so I can get a straight shot," said Kagome while Koga mumbled something under his breath Kagome couldn't hear.
Kikyo got in a few shots, but like her reincarnation she missed several times in hitting Inuyasha. Granted the aim of the arrow weren't lethally intended, but if they were to hit Inuyasha they would on contact paralyze him after his body hit a tree. 'What makes you to do this Inuyasha? Is it Naraku? Some form of emotional pain? Why does that foolish girl Kagome want to kill you make your demon side angry at me?" thought Kikyo as so many questions buzzed through.
By this time Inuyasha's speed started to increased so everyone chasing him could now only barely see him much less try to shoot what they thought might be Inuyasha. All except Kilala and Sango who had flow ahead of Inuyasha to spring a trap to stop him and get some answers from Inuyasha's strange behavior. Unknown to the two however, their plan was seen long before it went into motion the moment Inuyasha had increased his speed. While Kilala and Sango waited for Inuyasha to appear the half-demon struck turning their trap against them and knocked Sango off Kilala and into the trees below. Before Kilala knew what was happening grabbed her by the throat while still behind her used his weight and strength to send her spiraling down head first. "Going down?" said Inuyasha sarcastically as he tilted Kilala's head at an angle at the last minute so she would hit the ground some what softly and only be knocked unconscious.
Inuyasha checked to see if her feline friend was all right before he jumped into the trees and went of to find Sango, who at that moment was clearly lost and somewhat injured with minor bruises from the fall. Inuyasha saw Sango limp with her weapon on her back, but she clearly couldn't wield it to its full potential with all her bruises. She turned her back unsuspecting he was above her in the trees hidden in their shadow that was the shade they gave off from the sun. It was then Inuyasha pounced on Sango; After several rolls and tossing her boomerang as well as her sword aside Inuyasha had her pinned down on the ground and at his mercy. "Hello Sango I missed you. Strange that its only been short while and yet I feel as if I have been without you for day's, months, and what even feels like years. I think its time we played one of my games now that the others have played all of there's. Let's play," said Inuyasha who let out a growl and smile at his prey while Sango just tired to continue in her struggle to get out from his incredible strength.