Argh, sorry for the long wait! I've been jammed with work, plus my brother is always on the computer lately. (sigh) Anyway, now i have the next chapter up, and to make it up to you guys, I'm gonna make it long. (grins)
So yay! I have three reviews!
brokenwind: Thanks! Its great to hear somebody likes it.
Sakura30: Great to hear you love it! It would probably be better if i use more Japanese words. Though with the 'Lord Monk' comment, i read the manga in english, and thats what Sango calls Miroku, so i'm just used to hearing it. Houshi-sama sounds good, but i think i'll stick to what i know best. Thanks for the tips though! I might just use more Japanese words later.
Chapter 6: Battle
Inuyasha, Kagome and Sango were again rushing through the forest, Kagome on Inuyasha and Sango, as usual, on Kirara.
"Maybe we should go to where the wasps vanished. " Kagome had suggested earlier. " There might be a clue to their whereabouts there.. " And that was where they were going. She was peering over Inuyasha's shoulder, hanging on tightly as he dashed through the woods.
" Almost there! " Inuyasha shouted. Kagome could feel him slowing down, though, as Kirara and Sango slowly pulled in front of them, it showed she had no intention of stopping yet. Though soon.. " There! " Inuyasha once again shouted. He skidded to a stop and looked around. Sango continued forward, now slowing down. Kirara took a double take, turning around and heading back to the group before stopping.
" Are you sure, Inuyasha? " Sango asked. She was right to ask. This area looked no different to the rest of the woods. There was no clearing, no strange marks on the tree's, no indication of a shield spell.. There was nothing.
" Yes I'm sure! " Inuyasha replied angrily. " They disappeared right here! " Frowning, he looked around again. Kagome jumped off his back and took a few steps forward. She couldn't sense anything, which made her question Inuyasha's judgement, but the demons were traveling above the forest... Maybe they just used their disappearing trick again...
" Hey! " Sango shouted. Inuyasha and Kagome looked over at her. She was a short way from the group and looking at something on a rock. Kagome walked over to her and looked at the lump moving on the rock. She could hear Inuyasha's breathing behind her. The lump on the rock got slightly bigger before, with a pop, it sprouted into a mushroom with eyes.
" Waaa! " The Mushroom cried. Further to their right, there was another pop, and another cry from a Mushroom. Then another.
" This is from Shippo! " Kagome cried happily. " They must lead to Miroku! " She glanced at Sango and noticed a slight relieved smile appear on her face before disappearing as her determined face appeared again.
" Lets go! " Inuyasha yelled. He crouched down, waiting for Kagome to get on his back so he could move. Kagome quickly ran over to Inuyasha and climbed onto his back. He stood up and began running, following the mushrooms as they sprouted. Sango was on Kirara and only a few inches behind them. Soon they were almost ahead of the mushrooms as they sprouted, Kagome catching the sounds of the yelling mushrooms as they passed her and Inuyasha.
" Slow down! " Kagome said in his ear. " We're beginning to pass them! "
" I don't need to slow down! " Inuyasha shouted back. " I can smell the bastards lair! It reeks of wax and mud! " Soon Inuyasha screeched to a halt. Kirara had to do the same action to stop just as fast, fearing Inuyasha had noticed something important.
" What? " Sango asked him, looking back at Inuyasha.
" The smell is strongest here, " Inuyasha stated, " But there is nothing here! "
" It must be a shield. " Sango said, looking into the empty clearing that lay before them. They could see the edge of a cliff in the clearing, harbouring a waterfall that splashed down into a river further to the side of the clearing. The river trailed off into the woods, disappearing from view.
" Well if there's a shield, it won't last long! " Inuyasha yelled, pulling out his Tetsusaiga.
" Heh heh heh... " A voice interrupted before Inuyasha could swing. Instantly he turned towards the voice, holding his weapon offensively. " Your journey ends here... " The voice spoke again. Suddenly something appeared from the tree in front of Inuyasha, leaping down at them, attempting to attack.
Miroku found himself able to hear Shippo's voice as he shouted, yet he wasn't sure that he said, nor could he open his eyes. As his mind slowly focused, he could hear another, deeper voice. After a few more seconds, Miroku could understand what was being said.
" Me again... " The deeper voice said. Miroku still couldn't open his eyes, his eye lids feeling heavy. " Your awake, aren't you, monk? " The voice said. Again Miroku struggled to open his eyes, but to no avail. " Heh heh, yes, you are... " The voice continued.
" W-What do you want? " He heard Shippo's voice stammer.
" I am here to speak to the monk, Litter Runt. " The voice spoke calmly to Shippo, yet danger was clear in his tone. Miroku heard a small whimper come from Shippo before silence. " Monk. " The voice addressed him. " Your probably wondering where you are... Heh heh, well, Monk, that information won't concern you, since you will die soon. But first, for your body to be at it's most useful when you die, i must rid you of that nasty cut one of your companions so cruelly gave you.. " He means Sango... Miroku thought. She didn't... It was my... What did she do..? Miroku was still lightheaded, finding it difficult to remember past events. Though once he did remember them, they stuck to him like glue. Miroku could feel a very light throbbing on his cheek, though he no longer knew why. " The puncture wounds that your Fox friend gave you are not a worry, though they would be healed too. " The voice continued. " Your holy power, which you hold greatly, will come in handy more so than your body. Though it is not your concern why. Why i want your body intact though, will be fun to explain to you.. " The voice laughed at this. Miroku knew he should know who was speaking, but the name of him was gone from his mind. He spoke as if he run the place.. He thought. I should know this...
" Your body.. " The voice began speaking after a short pause. " It will become mine. I will strip you of your skin when you die and wear it as my own.. Your power will make it last longer than ordinary human flesh, which is a virtue for me. " My.. What..? " Miroku thought. Wear my skin..?
" Y-... Your sick... " Miroku said. Could move easier now, at least, he could move his mouth easier now. The poison must be beginning to wear off.
" You are awake! " Shippo blurted out.
" Silence, runt. " The voice hissed at the Kitsune. Shippo once again shut up. " You may think so, Monk, " The voice again spoke to him, " But to me it is normal. You, a mere mortal man, will never understand the demon mind. " Miroku again struggled to open his eyes. This time, he managed, opening them enough to peek through and see the body attached to the voice. It's eyes were cold, and it's skin was dead.. Its human skin..
" Y-you... " Miroku spoke again. " You speak of us as scum... Yet.. you wear our skin... " Miroku opened his eyes slightly wider. He twitched his hand. He could now move it, but his fist still felt heavy.
" Heh heh, good eyes you have, Monk. " The demon in human skin said. " I deserve to take the form of a human, just like the forms of many other demons that can't even scratch me. I should take the shape to, forcefully, if not naturally. Now, Monk. The blue light you are in is slowly healing your body, though not fast enough. " Through his slitted eye lids, Miroku noticed the strange blue tinge darken. " Now you will heal faster. " The demon continued. " And in ten minutes, when the injuries are gone, i will begin to drain your energy until there is no more. Then, Monk, you will die, and i, Ontai-Wasupu, will have your power and your skin! " With that, Miroku watched him turn and walk out of view. He could tell the demon was leaving. With an almost silent sigh, Miroku closed his eyes again.
" Miroku! " He heard the Kitsune's voice call him.
"... Mmm..? " He mumbled. He heard Shippo's feet patter over to his side.
" Are you ok..? " Shippo asked him, his voice filled with worry and fear.
Pause. " ... No... " Miroku finally said. He heard Shippo gasp. Now he would be able to stay awake, but it won't do any good, since he could hardly move or speak. He still knew that he had forgotten one of his friends. He knew it was a girl... What as it..? Miroku sighed. Sango... He thought. Inuyasha... Hurry...
Quickly, Inuyasha jumped out of the way at the diving demon. He easily dodged the attack, and once he landed he turned to face it. Once the dust it had caused had settled, Inuyasha could properly see the demon. It looked like the one that had taken Miroku, only it's flesh was slightly darker.
" Kagome, " Inuyasha called to the girl still hanging onto his back, " Get out of the way! " Instantly, the girl climbed off his back and moved away, stopping near a tree. Inuyasha could see Sango, off of Kirara, holding her Hiraikotsu and ready to throw it.
" Who are you? " Inuyasha shouted at the demon.
" Heh heh heh... " It laughed again. " I am Shakou-maru. I will be the last battle you'll ever have! " The demon then jumped at Inuyasha, it's claws extended, and it's stinger lengthening. Many wasps appeared from the tree's. They also rushed towards Inuyasha. There weren't as many as they had encountered before, but there was still a fair few. Quickly, Inuyasha dodged the demon, swinging his Tetsusaiga at the wasps. He slashed through a few, their torn bodies hitting the ground. Without hesitating, Inuyasha slashed at the demon in the same swing, though his movement was slow and the demon easily dodged it.
" Hiraikotsu! " He heard Sango shout. The large boomerang appeared into his field of view and tore through many of the wasps. With a snarl, the demon shifted it's attention from Inuyasha to Sango, now charging towards her, trying to slaughter the human that dared harm his swarm.
" Die, Wench! " The demon hissed at her, jumping and extending it's stinger at her. Before it reached her, Inuyasha slashed at the demon, easily cutting off its stinger. In pain and surprise, the demon jumped back, away from the group.
" You... You removed my stinger! " The demon snarled. Rage flickered it it's eyes. " Die! " It jumped at Inuyasha.
" Wind Scar! " Inuyasha shouted, slashing his sword at the demon. The wind tore up the ground as it rushed towards the demon, quickly ripping it apart when it reached it. It's body hit the ground, a few other chunks of it hitting the ground soon afterwards. Kagome fired a few Purity Arrows, finishing off the last of the swarm.
" Third rate demon. " Inuyasha scoffed, turning away from the torn, dead body.
" Quickly, Inuyasha, " Sango urged him, " Destroy the shield! "
" I'm on it! " Inuyasha replied. He turned to the empty clearing and raised his sword. He then jumped forward, brining the blade down. " Kekkaigiri " He shouted, his Tetsusaiga glowing red. Instantly a shield appeared, but it didn't stay for long as Inuyasha's sword sliced right through it, causing it to waver and finally disappear. What now appeared amazed the group. They could see a HUGE wasps nest towering above the ground, attached to the rock beside the waterfall, far enough away to not be sprayed by any water. Underneath the hive was a Manor, not too big but big enough.
" That must be where Miroku is! " Kagome exclaimed.
" That's if he isn't in that hive.. " Sango added, her face grim.
" Still, it's worth checking the manor first. " Kagome replied.
" Laggards, stop squabbling and lets go! " Inuyasha butted in. He raced forward into the clearing. Kagome, Sango and Kirara followed close behind. They reached the middle of the clearing without any trouble. " Kagome, Sango, you go find Miroku. " Inuyasha said. " Sango, protect Kagome. " Sango scowled slightly at this.
" What about you, Inuyasha? " Kagome chimed in.
" I'll fight the demon, you two get moving. " He replied. Nodding, Kagome turned and headed towards the manor, Sango following. But Kagome quickly stopped in her tracks, Sango jumping in front of her protectively. In the doorway stood a creature with dead skin, watching them with a slight smile plastered on his face. But his eyes showed no joy. His eyes were cold, and showed slight annoyance at the intrusion.
" Welcome, friends. " He said loudly. Suddenly Inuyasha was in front of both of them, holding out his sword and ready to attack. " You wish to kill me now, right, Half-breed? " The creature said. Inuyasha growled loudly.
" Ontai-Wasupu, i presume? " He snarled.
" Correct. " Ontai-Wasupu answered. " And don't think of using your blade on me. I've seen that special move you call the Wind Scar through the eyes of my beloved wasps. If you try it now, this manor behind me, the one that holds your friend, the Monk, will crumble from your attack, and Kill the monk and the Kitsune inside. "
" Shippo? " Kagome said. She had already known he was here, but why would the demon let him live?
" Yes. " Ontai-Wasupu replied. " I believe that's his name. He's very worried about that monk, you know." Ontai-Wasupu smiled cruelly. Inuyasha snarled again.
" Why don't you come over here and fight like a real demon? " Inuyasha shouted.
" As you wish.. " Ontai-Wasupu smiled slighly. Instantly he jumped, landing in the middle of the clearing near Inuyasha. " Like you with your sword, i will have some assistance with this fight. " After he finished speaking, a loud Humming noise appeared. Suddenly all the wasps, more than they had seen before, came buzzing out of the large hive, flying down to their master and hovering above him.
" If you would allow me, half-breed, i wish to complete something i started before we begin our battle. " With out waiting for Inuyasha to accept, he turned in place and was now facing the hive. Nothing happened for a few seconds, but then something flew out of the hive, something larger than the wasps. It landed infront of Ontai-Wasupu, kneeling. Inuyasha recognised the demon. It was Gaidoku-maru.
" Did you call, master? " Gaidoku-maru spoke.
" Yes. " Ontai-Wasupu answered. " You can see, Gaidoku-maru, that the others that were with the monk have found their way here. How do you suppose this happened? " Though his voice showd annoyance, he sounded deadly calm.
" I-it must have been that foul litter runt that led them here! " Gaidoku-maru tried to hide a stammer.
" Indeed. " Ontai-Wasupu answered. " And you brought it here. I gave you your last warning not too long ago, Gaidoku-maru. "
" M-master..? " The demon raised it's head. Ontai-Wasupu stared calmly at the demon crouching before him.
" Die. " He said. He opened his mouth and spat out another ball of poison. Horrified, the gang watched as the demon, Gaidoku-maru, screamed in pain as he melted. Soon the scream died away, and all that was left of the demon was a small puddle of liquid ooze.
Ontai-Wasupu turned back to Inuyasha. " Shall we begin? " He asked.
" Your sick! " Inuyasha shouted at him. Ontai-Wasupu smiled. Suddenly he was moving rapidly towards Inuyasha, his dead fingers breaking off to reviel insect-like fingers with sharp, needle-like, hooked claws.
Well thats pretty long. Hope it's enough for ya! I'm gonna post another chapter tomorrow. No more long waits! ( atleast not for a while.. )