The Blood I Shed for You
Disclaimer: Considering I am posting this story on a site called fanfiction.net, one would assume that it is exactly that, a fanfic. One would also assume any writers on this site would be immune to lawsuits in any way, shape, or form. Though, this may not be the case, and I do not wish to trustingly leave myself in the hand of another. I hereby announce I have no ownership of the Inuyasha series, manga, and movie. Ownership and all rights go to Rumiko Takahashi. I write any and all stories merely for entertainment of others, and myself. I receive no money for my efforts. Any original characters I may or may not use in any of my stories are of my own making, and though none of them may be protected as mine by law and I will have no power should someone decide to use one, I do appreciate permission, first.
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The forest was serene as the Inu-gang slept peacefully beneath the shade of a tree. The birds chirped in the mid-day sun, and for once. . . not a thing in the world was wrong.
Inuyasha was the first one to wake as Kagome sighed and stirred in his arms. He looked up at the sky to notice the sun had moved. He assumed they had been asleep for 3 or 4 hours. When he looked back down, he saw Kagome looking up at him with happy, yet still sleepy eyes.
"I was wondering what I was sleeping on that was so warm." She said with laughter in her voice.
"Keh. I couldn't put you on the ground. You would have woken up." He made sure to add the next part to protect his 'tough guy' image. "I didn't really feel like putting up with you being cranky because you didn't get enough sleep."
She smiled at him. "Thanks."
Inuyasha grunted in response. Kagome looked over and saw Shippo asleep with Inuyasha's arm around him. She looked up and smiled at him. Inuyasha looked like a kid caught with his hand in a cookie jar.
"I didn't want the brat to wake up! He's actually quiet when he's asleep!" Inuyasha defended.
Kagome knew his 'though guy' act too well as she smiled and stood. She stretched out, careful of her ankle. Inuyasha, noticing the way she favored it, spoke up.
"You're not going to do any more walking until that leg gets taken care of." He stated flatly. "Whether you like it or not, you're either riding on Kirara or my back."
"Yes. His blood has been dry since before you settled down for your little nap."
Kagome looked stunned as Inuyasha leapt to his feet, turning around to face up into the tree. Shippo began yelling in a confused manner as he hit the ground with an unceremonious 'plop'.
"You!" Inuyasha snarled as he put himself between the dark figure in the tree and Kagome.
By this time everyone had woken up, quite confused, and began gathering their senses. When they noticed the situation, they jumped up ready for anything.
"As I said before… none of you are fit to protect that Shikon no Tama. That little nap of yours could have cost you, not only the Shikon shards, but your lives as well."
"I thought I dealt with you already!" Inuyasha snarled.
The strange figure leapt to the ground with a self-satisfied laugh, landing right in front of Inuyasha. Inuyasha wasn't going to trust this stranger, even though it was a foot or two smaller than him. He was about to strike when Kagome suddenly realized something. This youkai had known she didn't want to ride on Inuyasha because of the blood on his clothes. She had said that right after they had defeated the scorpion youkai.
"Just how long have you been following us?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha seemed to pause at Kagome's question. A quick silence passed before the youkai answered.
"A few days."
"What!?" Inuyasha bellowed. "You're lying! I would have noticed!"
The figure chuckled coldly. "Just like you noticed I was in the tree?"
Inuyasha growled as the stranger continued. "You still have much to learn, pup. You're still so unaware of your surroundings. Not only have I been following you for days, but I've been keeping track of you ever since Little Miko released you from your seal." The stranger said, motioning towards Kagome.
Everyone seemed shocked at this release of information. What this youkai was saying must have been true, otherwise how would it know that Kagome was the one that released him?
"Just who are you, anyway?" Inuyasha snapped.
"I'm surprised you don't know already, pup. Perhaps if you asked, Sesshomaru would tell you."
"So!" Inuyasha snarled. "You're one of Sesshomaru's lackeys!"
With out hesitation he swiped at the youkai. The youkai jumped back and Inuyasha continued his outraged assault, brandishing dagger-sharp claws. With each swing, the youkai simply dodged, seeming barely annoyed by Inuyasha's attack while Inuyasha seemed to only get angrier.
"Not quite." The youkai responded, seeming to not be in any hurry to fight or speak.
"Hold still so I can fight you!" Inuyasha raged.
He continued to swing at the youkai, backing it into a tree. The youkai leapt in the air as Inuyasha swiped again. Inuyasha leapt into the air as well, confident as he found the youkai was caught between him and the tree. Just as he was about to claw at the place where the youkai's head would be, it drove into him, using the tree as a springboard of sorts. As Inuyasha was pushed backwards, the youkai used its placement above Inuyasha as an advantage as it drove him into the ground.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed as she watched the fight.
The youkai leapt through the air the moment Inuyasha slammed into the dirt, landing only a few feet from the group, but still facing Inuyasha. Its cloak billowed out as it landed in a crouch, giving the group a view of bare feet and clawed hands. Inuyasha grunted and groaned as he got back to his feet, still trying to get his breath back.
"S-Shit." He gasped as his breath caught.
It was still hard to breath. He could tell nothing was broken or damaged, but it was so hard to breath. He'd never had the wind knocked out of him that badly before, but he was determined to continue fighting.
"Impressive, pup. You're either very determined, or very stupid."
"B-Bastard! I'll tear your… throat out and make you eat those words!" Inuyasha roared as he gained his breath once more.
"You have spunk. I'll give you that."
Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga. "I have more than that!"
Inuyasha charged with Tetsusaiga. When he reached the youkai he swung Tetsusaiga down. The look of surprise on Inuyasha's face was priceless when the youkai stopped Tetsusaiga by clamping an iron grip on either side of the sword. With a swift motion, its left hand curled over the top of Tetsusaiga as it moved the right hand away, kicking Inuyasha's hands with such sudden and intense force that it caused Tetsusaiga to tumble through the air. Tetsusaiga landed, tip first, into the ground with a soft 'clang' about 20 feet away, and changed back into its untransformed form.
"You have a nice sword, mutt. It's too bad you haven't the foggiest idea how to use it properly." The youkai said as it slowly walked towards Tetsusaiga.
Inuyasha looked smug. "And I suppose you do?"
"As a matter of fact, yes."
Inuyasha scoffed. "Go right ahead."
The youkai hesitated, a clawed hand steady above Tetsusaiga. "You seem too relaxed that I'm after your sword, mutt. Is there a reason you're not worried that I'm trying to take such a powerful weapon? I could use it against you…"
"Go right ahead." Inuyasha chortled.
The youkai paused "As you wish."
It curled its hand around the hilt of Tetsusaiga, but was dissuaded by the barrier. Inuyasha laughed.
"A youkai barrier, eh?"
The cloaked youkai stood for a moment as if contemplating something before, again, reaching for Tetsusaiga.
"Didn't learn your lesson the first time, eh, bastard?"
The youkai curled its hand around the hilt of Tetsusaiga again. This time, the barrier did not repel the hand. Inuyasha's face nearly fell off as the youkai pulled Tetsusaiga from the Earth and Tetsusaiga transformed. A sudden uproar from the Inu-gang showed they were as shocked as Inuyasha. Until that point they had just been talking among themselves and commenting about the fight.
