Chapter 3-Battle of the Blades
The sound of swords clashing echoed throughout the forest as Inuyasha and Sesshomorru fought each other in a fight for survival. The winner would be able to walk away from the fight while the loser would taste a bitter death at the hand of the other. At the beginning of the fight it was Sesshomorru who seemed to have the upper hand against his younger half-demon brother. However, such an edge had vanished as quickly as it came as it was soon realized by Sesshomorru as well as Kikyo that Inuyasha was full of surprises. 'My half-demon reincarnation has become quite skilled from the absorbing my spirit and I still have much to teach him. He is truly something,' thought the ancient Inuyasha as Inuyasha went on the offensive and had Sesshomorru not blocked at the last minute would have cut his big demon brother in half.
As Inuyasha wielded Tetsuigia against Sesshomorru's Tokijin everyone except him was surprised at his use of the demon fanged blade. In fact Inuyasha's skills were so sharp it was slowly pushing Sesshomorru back into a defensive form. 'How can he possibly be this strong with Tetsuigia?' thought Sesshomorru and Kikyo at same time as Inuyasha blocked another one of Sesshomorru's strikes from the side that were meant to force him to retreat only to counter it with a kick to the demon lords stomach sending him into a nearby tree.
"Still think I'm weak...brother," said Inuyasha sarcastically as more of the red aura grew around him making Kikyo and Sesshomorru who had recovered from the kick and impact from the tree.
'How can this be? He should be weaker then me, but instead he has been able to push me back as if I were the half-demon. It's almost as if we have switched places. No! I am still more powerful then he ever will be regardless of his new found power. Inuyasha will fall! He must fall!' thought Sesshomorru as he became more and more aggressive in his sword strikes and attacks that effectively pushed Inuyasha back several steps.
"I see you finally developed a more potent spine Sesshomorru. Maybe now I can finally stop going so easy on you," said Inuyasha with a smile on his face as their swords had now become for the moment deadlocked.
"What? Impossible!" said a shocked Sesshomorru as he found himself being pushed back by Inuyasha as the said half-demon spun his sword this way and that driving the Lord of the Western Lands back once more.
'Inuyasha! Are you really stronger then when I remember you?' thought Kikyo as she watched with admiration and awe at the site before.
Inuyasha was fighting like a true sword master with such velocity, skill, strength, speed, and power that two out of the three of them their never thought existed. Sesshomorru now had the distinct feeling that he could in fact lose or for a worst term of losing...die! It was then that Inuyasha faked an attack mid-swing and did a re-spin and was able to dig his mighty Tetsuigia deep into Sesshomorru's side. The attack itself made Kikyo and more importantly Sesshomorru gasp as blood left the demon lord of the west as Inuyasha dug the blade in deeper with a satisfying smile on his face. "The trick with that little attack is it cuts down speed, but increases strength slightly to leave a pretty decent hit. What do you think?" said Inuyasha smiling even more as he forced the blade in deeper with his demon strength.
Whether it was instinct or a last ditch effort Sesshomorru used what strength he had left and kicked Inuyasha away Tetsuigia and all. "You...are stronger...Inuyasha. That I...will not...deny you, but...I will not...die at your...hands...he...here," said Sesshomorru who found that the wound was deeper then he originally thought as he struggled to stay on his two feet.
"Lord Sesshomorru!" screamed a child's voice that revealed itself to be none other then Rin who had made her presence known by leaping out of a nearby bush and running to her demon master.
"Rin...stay back!" said Sesshomorru in a serious and commanding tone that Rin never heard from her master.
Rin however, disobeyed and clung to her master's leg with AhUn coming in between to two sword combatants and growled dangerously at Inuyasha. "No! Rin is staying with you Lord Sesshomorru. I don't want to lose you. No more! Please no more! Rin begs of you" said Rin who was now crying and staring at a panting, bleeding, and nearly to an exhausted point of death Sesshomorru who just stared at the girl for a moment.
"Heh you're hypocrite!" said Inuyasha making his presence known to the two as AhUn growl even louder.
"What did you say?" said Sesshomorru angrily as he felt some of his strength return due to Tenseiga and his demon healing abilities, but was still in no condition to fight.
"You say I'm horrible for being around humans and how I and father were weak and were pathetic for being around them as well as loving them. However, you're doing the exact same thing as I am and yet you say I am pathetic. You don't deserve to be the Lord of the Western Lands if you're going to rule like a hypocritical fool!" said Inuyasha as he was now pointing at Inuyasha with his left hand while holding his sword with the right.
"Perhaps I can solve both your problems," said a robed figure above in the shadows of the trees as the dark form jumped from its spot and landed on the ground near the middle area that separated the two warriors.
"Who are you?" said Sesshomorru and then noticed Jaken was under his left arm and had his double bladed sword in his right hand.
"Me? Of course my mistake we never met and it's impolite not to introduce ourselves to one another. Then again I do all your names through my employer, but I will tell you mind as their must be a name for the person who takes all your live. My name is Kane. I am a demon mercenary and I have come for the head of the half-demon who goes by the name of...Inuyasha," said Kane as he threw an unconscious Jaken down to his left and removed his robes showing he was a demon unlike any they had ever seen before.
Kane had demonic tattoos all over his face with each one being a different design and add to that he had so many you couldn't tell what his skin color was to boot. His clothing was all black from head to toes with a black tunic with gloves and black pants with his black ninja shoes meant for being silent. His eyes were white with no pupils as if he were blind, but it was clear he could see from the way he moved his head slowly from Sesshomorru, to AhUn, to Kikyo, and then finally stopping on Inuyasha. "What kind of demon are you? I've never seen your kind before," said Inuyasha as Kane was now standing at a height that one could easily tell that it was in between the height of Inuyasha and Sesshomorru.
"I don't really remember my heritage to be honest with you Inuyasha, but I can tell you that I am a full blooded demon, I am strong, and I am going to take your head and I will bring it to my employer...Naraku," said Kane who then charged at Inuyasha with blinding speed that Inuyasha could barely match as Kane wielded his double bladed sword with skill that was just as good as Inuyasha's if not better.
The two warriors fought each other like they were both possessed by something greater then themselves. At first Inuyasha barely had any solid ground, but after a moment of deadlock with his left hand grabbing the middle of Kane's double bladed sword while his Tetsuigia was blocking for him on his right he was able to regain balance and fight back "Lord Sesshomorru you have to help him. He's your brother!" said Rin as she held onto Sesshomorru's pant leg with one hand and pointed at Inuyasha with the other as the said half-demon and his opponent were battling it out as they went deeper into the forest.
"Inuyasha can take care of himself Rin. Were leaving," said Sesshomorru who was going to awaken Jaken with a small thrashing when Kikyo stepped in front of the still slightly staggering Sesshomorru.
"What's wrong Sesshomorru? Are you afraid you're no longer the top dog now that you found others stronger then you?" said Kikyo as she was now starting to radiate some of her spiritual energy in order to make Sesshomorru think twice about attacking her.
(Elsewhere)
'Lousy Sango making me travel like this!' thought Kagome was now running as fast as her shoe covered feet would and could take her as she was the only one on the ground. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo were all riding on Kilala to go find Inuyasha just to see if he was all right and not ruin the anniversary for the two former love birds. At least that what Sango and the other hoped for, but Kagome they knew would destroy the anniversary just to keep Inuyasha under her control. Sango in terms of protecting Inuyasha from the girl from the future had made it abundantly clear that Kagome could run their without getting help from either Kilala or Shippo.
Sango wanted to see Kagome suffer in such away so the girl from the future could be punished for always saying "sit" to Inuyasha, which would activate the rosary and thus make Inuyasha hit the ground creating an imprint in the dirt. Granted she had admitted to herself that at first it seemed he deserved them from time to time, but when he revealed his reasons for doing what he did why he did she realized his whole life had been a living hell. Her life wasn't a picnic either since her life was filled with danger since her birth, but still compared to Inuyasha's it was a better lifestyle. With her you could see your enemies, knowing friend from foe, and being accepted by a race of beings that help create you. 'Inuyasha had none of that. He had to survive all his life on wit and instinct alone,' thought Sango as she ad to force back tears that threatened to come out of her eyes.
The same could be said for Kilala as she was thinking along those same lines in a similar yet different way. She was the only demon in the village and was accepted by them all because she held no malice or anger towards humans. She had always tried to live in harmony with them and coexist with them. When she saw how Kagome had constantly abused the rosary around his neck and was treating him as something to be owned and not loved it burned her up inside. She had seen two or three half-demon's in her life though in her opinion none were as handsome as Inuyasha, but she had always respected half-demons. To her they represented humans being able to fall in love with demons and thus showing they could live together and fall in love with each other. Part of her wished that would happen with her and Inuyasha though she kept it to herself as an impossible fantasy...for the moment anyway. 'Even if I can't have him I will protect him with all that I am,' thought Kilala as she increased her pace in the air slightly as she heard the sound of swords clashing together and sensing the familiar aura Inuyasha gave off before.
(Nearby with Sesshomorru and Kikyo)
"Get out of the way Priestess or I will strike you down," said Sesshomorru trying to focus his strength into a now heavy Tokijin towards Kikyo.
"If you do then Inuyasha will be most upset with you and we all know he is now much stronger then you already. Imagine what he will do to you when he gets angry and who he will attack after he kills you in a moment of continuous rage?" said Kikyo who knew that Sesshomorru's sword was very powerful as was the one who wielded it, but at the moment its master was currently unable to use it the way he wanted to.
Sesshomorru knowing his bluff had been called decided it was best not to do anything at the moment till he had enough strength to recover to escape. Once he recovered he would take Rin and to a very much lesser extent Jaken with him who still had not woken up. "To answer your previous question Priestess I am simply leaving here with Rin and Jaken because they are in danger not because I am...weaker then Inuyasha or his opponent," said Sesshomorru who had to painfully force out for his mouth the word "weaker" from his mouth knowing it was something he had never said such a word about himself before.
"An excuse at best great 'Lord of the Western Lands' (giggles slightly), but all I see is a dog who can't accept the truth that there is someone in his family that stronger then him and is a half-demon," said Kikyo smiling knowing she had hit Inuyasha's brother with a hard and undisputable fact.
"I...AM...NOT...WEAK!" said Sesshomorru letting his anger get the better of him as his eyes turned blood red and called forth his demon power giving him the strength he so needed and desired.
Kikyo herself raised an eyebrow as if she was curious at this new development, but she was not impressed as Sesshomorru showed his demon strength. Kikyo easily knew that compared to one another Inuyasha's power was more powerful the Sesshomorru's by far and was growing...stronger. "Then prove it and assist Inuyasha in battle," said Kikyo knowing that the demon's ego was his one and only weakness.
By this point Sesshomorru's power had healed his wounds and made him recover most of his lost strength as his rage hit an all new high. He did not want to aid his brother, but in truth he would rather like to kill him instead. However, after realizing that this demon mercenary that was Kane would kill him, Jaken, and Rin should he do nothing he came to the undeniable conclusion that he had to aid his brother for the greater good...though he wasn't going to enjoy it. "And in return what will you do for me?" said Sesshomorru as he focused himself to speak once more, but in a more terrifying fashion that would have made many tremble before them.
Kikyo could only smile as she looked at Rin and then at Jaken (who was unconscious) before looking at Sesshomorru. "While you help Inuyasha these two along with your dragon will be under my care," said Kikyo who heard AhUn growl slightly not trusting the priestess with her words.
Sesshomorru didn't like the idea of his three followers being under the care of someone like Kikyo, but the sound of swords clashing and the sound of flesh meeting metal it was clear he had no choice. "Fine, but no this Priestess should they be harmed in any way I will kill you for your transgressions," said Sesshomorru as he plucked a frightened Rin from his leg and placed her on AhUn after he kicked Jaken in the two headed dragons direction.
"I would never harm a child like her great Lord of the Western Lands. She is innocent and I would never think to hurt her," said Kikyo who still had a smile on her face as she bowed slightly.
"Tell me...Kikyo. Did you tell that to my brother that when you were still alive or did you just keep that thought to yourself right before you pinned him to a tree for 50 years?" said Sesshomorru before leaving to face Kane and assist Inuyasha.
(A/N: Woooooo BURN!)
He was most fortunate that he did because had he looked at her again he would have seen that Kikyo had a shocked, but angry look on her face as she had slowly reached for an arrow to use on the demon lord. 'You will pay for that one later Sesshomorru whether it is by my hands or Inuyasha's!' thought Kikyo angrily.
(Meanwhile in the fight itself)
Inuyasha had been for the longest time been on a stable form of fighting Kane's attacks longer than either himself or Kane thought he could be. That was until Kane got in a very lucky break and got a deep cut in to Inuyasha's left arm making blood come out of it like a fountain. "Not bad Inuyasha. You are the first person much less only half-demon that has lasted this long against me. You are truly a worthy opponent. Its actually a shame that the payment I got from Naraku in the from of 4 sacred jewel shards was to kill you," said Kane as he suddenly spun his blade over his and did a spin kick with his weapon only to have Inuyasha dodged the first strike, blocked with the second with his Tetsuigia, and in a brilliant yet gutsy move did a spin of his own and back handed Kane with his nearly useless left arm knocking the demon mercenary off balance.
"Same could be said for you Kane. There are only a very elite and exclusive group of people who have fought me and lived to tell the tale, but none of them were this strong. You should be flattered," said Inuyasha as he ignored the pain in his left arm as the blood left his wound.
"Shame it has to end," said Kane as he readied himself for another strike that he knew that not even Inuyasha could stop.
"Mind if I cut in?" said Sesshomorru who blocked the back part of Kane's blade with Tokijin early so Inuyasha could attack the front with his Tetsuigia.
"You? My my this is a surprise indeed. I look forward to having both your heads on my wall as trophies, once I present them to Naraku. Who knows? Maybe I can get a bonus for the effort in killing the Lord of the Western Lands?" said Kane as he maneuvered in such a manner you hand to be a demon to do it.
(A/N: I know it like Phantom Menace with Darth Maul, but that's the only way this three way duel came to me in my head.)
The battle quickly moved and brought itself to a cliff with a nearby waterfall with a quick path that one could cross. The pathway itself being created by a large log of a tree trunk halfway, with three large boulders in the middle, and then finally after that there was another large tree trunk of a log thus connecting them into a crude form of a bridge. As they came to it Inuyasha went first, Kane came in the middle for second, and a one armed Sesshomorru coming in last to enter the crude bridge as they continued the fight. By this point all three warriors were exhausted, but kept going due to a combination of demon blood and adrenaline pumping through their bodies. Unbeknownst to them Kikyo had quietly escorted Rin, AhUn, and (a stumbling from being unconscious for so long) Jaken to see this incredible fight before them. 'Incredible,' thought Kikyo, Rin, and AhUn while Jaken would have said the same thing had he not tripped over a rock and become unconscious again.
Above Kilala had just arrived with Sango, Shippo, and Miroku while Kagome was a few yards behind them on the opposite side of the bridge. "There he is!" said Shippo pointing to Inuyasha while now on Sango's shoulder.
"Yes and look who else is their?" said Miroku who was pointing at Sesshomorru and then to Kikyo who was watching the fight with Rin.
"Yes, but who is that with them?" said Sango as she saw Inuyasha and his older brother Sesshomorru teaming up to fight this black wearing demon warrior who was wielding a double bladed sword that was considered a rare weapon and even rarer for someone to master.
No sooner had she said those words disaster struck as Kane made his move and struck hard with is attack as he ducked from Sesshomorru's attack and then kicked Inuyasha off balance. Then he spun his back upward around a wide open Sesshomorru and stabbed one half of his weapon right through the Lord of the Western Lands. "No! No! Lord Sesshomorru!" yelled Rin crying as she ran to her master breaking from Kikyo's grip as Kane kicked backed and the demon lord fell back first onto the giant tree trunk of a log.
"Bastard!" yelled Inuyasha as he saw what Kane did to his older brother as his power suddenly went into overdrive.
'Oh...crap!' thought the ancient Inuyasha as his half-demon's anger reached a whole new level and was starting to reach the point of him going psychotic.
At this point Inuyasha's eyes glowed red as more power ran through his body like never before and put Kane right on the defensive as each impact to his weapon by Inuyasha with his Tetsuigia was more powerful then the last. 'How can he wield this much power?' thought Kane surprised that anyone could do this much less be able to.
Just as he finished that thought though he along with everyone else watching were now completely shocked beyond belief. Inuyasha's Tetsuigia had just broken off one of two of Kane's blades. Kane in a last ditch effort tried to maneuver his other blade around to cut Inuyasha in half vertically only to have Inuyasha spin diagonally at the very last moment and pierced his Tetsuigia through the demon mercenaries back right through to the front. "It's over Kane. I WIN!" said Inuyasha in a darker voice that the other were not used to with his red demon eyes blazing with a fire only hell could match.
(A/N: Woooooo. I leaving it at that and who knows what will happen next? Oh wait I do yet at the same tie I do not. Riddles got to love them so. Anyway voting for those who haven't voted and REVIEWED is going to be crucial for this next chapter to take place. So far its Sango 2, Kikyo 1, and Kilala 1. For the record I know that Kilala doesn't have a human form, but you forget there are ways around that so if your not casting a vote because of the whole not having a human form thing don't worry about it I have that part covered should Kilala win. Anyway thanks to all those who reviewed last time and I hope to hear from you again. Reviews and votes are crucial for next chapter development. Don't forget. I know who you are I can remind you. Insert evil laugh- HAHAHAHA! Sorry I couldn't control myself.)