Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Chapter Nine
Takumi and Naraku: The Second Attempt
Takumi had spent all day wondering what to do. He didn't want to call his little miko first, realizing that the hanyou in her room was the reason she told him she couldn't see him last night. But she hadn't called all day either, and he was starting to get worried. Despite what he thought he knew about the hanyou, he also knew that half demons could be dangerous. And besides, if this hanyou was who he thought he was, that meant things were very twisted up.
"Dammit, why won't you call me, Kagome?" Takumi was walking through the now deserted park, with the sun setting to his back. He fingered his last gift for Kagome, a sword sheath that was whispered to have magical properties. Another old family heirloom. Takumi still didn't know why he was giving these things to Kagome. If his father found out, he would be furious. Yet something in his heart told him Kagome needed these things, even more than she needed him. Which was a bit painful for his ego, to be sure. But Takumi always had been one to listen to his instincts. It was what got him Kagome in the first place.
Takumi sighed, and sat in a swing, lightly pushing himself back and forth. He checked his cell phone again, but no missed calls. He looked up at the sky, admiring the swirling colors that always appeared during a sunset. The dominant color tonight was red, a bloody vibrant red that made Takumi nervous.
"Are you ok, my little miko?" Takumi whispered into the empty air.
"She was never ok." Takumi jumped at the voice he hadn't been expecting. He looked around, trying to find the speaker.
"Who's there?" He finally called out.
"Just someone trying to warn you. Stay away from the miko."
"What? Do you mean Kagome? If you're threatening her, I will not stay away from her!" Takumi looked around again, squinting in the fading sunlight. "Where are you?"
"I'm right here," the voice answered condescendingly. As Takumi turned around, he saw the dark figure appear, as if out of nothingness.
"Who are you?" Takumi's voice betrayed none of his fear.
"Just someone telling someone else to mind their own business. The miko is no concern of yours." The figure approached Takumi, who gaped at the red eyes.
"What are you?" Takumi rectified his earlier question. He gripped the sheath harder than before. The figure only chuckled.
"Didn't your parents teach you not to stay out after dark?" The figure suddenly changed, and Takumi found himself knocked off his feet, landing painfully on the ground.
"I know you," he hissed through his pain. "You're Naraku, who tried to keep my family apart." Struggling to stand, Takumi clutched at his obviously broken arm. His violet eyes glinted with the blood color of the fading sky. Naraku watched carefully as those eyes flashed with a red that was not reflected from the sunlight.
"You shouldn't pretend like you know what's going on," Naraku said ominously. He attacked Takumi again, but the boy dodged the attack. Again and again, Naraku attacked, but the boy continued avoiding. But he began to wear down, while Naraku was not even sweating with effort. When one attack landed Takumi on his back, Naraku brought a tentacle down, ready to smash in victory, when Takumi weakly held up the sheath.
Immediately a pale blue glow surrounded him, pushing back against the attack of Naraku. Takumi howled in pain as he struggled to use his broken arm, and Naraku laughed with an evil sort of glee. But the sheath held up, and Naraku was not able to pass through the boundary it held. Takumi blinked, tears smarting his eyes that flickered between violet and red. He turned towards Naraku, not really comprehending what he was doing.
"What is this?" Naraku growled, watching the boy struggle to stand. He attacked again, but the sheath held up against his attacks. His attempts to stop to boy proved worthless as the boy dragged himself towards Naraku. He held up the sheath as if it were a life saver, which it truly was. Frustration ran through Naraku.
"I won't let you mess this up," Takumi yelled. "Things weren't supposed to happen like this!" Naraku wryly thought of the castle of time, and how right this boy really was. Then he was distracted by again, as the boy was gaining ground on him. Naraku began to back away, but the boy ran then, and moved the sheath from it's protective position. He cried out as a tentacle found it's mark, but moved forward nonetheless, and plunged the sheath deep into Naraku's body.
As a blackness swirled out and around, Takumi sank to the ground, still clutching the sheath. He swam in and out of consciousness as he watched the being in front of him vanish, leaving nothing but a bit of broken wood. Takumi sighed, recognizing the puppet. He rolled on his back, watching the last of the sunlight fade away, and the blackness of night enveloped him.
"Kagome!" he suddenly gasped. What if Naraku came after her as well? Takumi struggled to stand, and began his slow, painful way to the shrine where his little miko lived. He failed to notice the stars coming out. Two bright stars drew closer, while a dimmer third one was being pushed away.
Author's Notes: Sorry it's been so long, but I do hope that these three chapters make up for it! Finals are over though, so enjoy, for I should have regular updates from now on, yay!
