Finally, another chapter! Finally i continue the story after that rather mean cliffhanger i left you with before. Though i think after this chapter you're gonna hate me more. (grins)

brokenwind: Hehe, i use spell check. My grammar, i definitely need to work on, though it's not too bad. Don't choose my words well? Actually your probably right. I use the words that come into my head, which, in the end, may not be the best choice, though I'm working on it. (grins)

Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Kazaana

Inuyasha held his sword defensively. He couldn't hurt Ontai-Wasupu. Injuring the demon will mean his friends death. There must be a way.. Inuyasha thought desperately. There must!

' You must be crying inside, " Ontai-Wasupu commented, " To have stopped swinging that blade for so long. " The demon wore a smirk still on his dead human skin.

" Feh! " Inuyasha retorted, raising his blade. " I'm just thinking of what dance i should do on your grave when you die! " With that, Inuyasha rushed forward, slashing the Tetsusaiga. As usual, it missed, but this time it was what Inuyasha was hoping. He didn't wasn't to seem like he was weak, but he didn't want to kill Miroku.. But his only choice was to fight. So fight he will.

" Wind Scar! " He shouted, slashing at the demon and ripping up the ground in front of it, along with a collection of wasps. Clearly Ontai-Wasupu wasn't prepared to get hit by that attack. " Heh, still hiding behind those bugs? " Inuyasha mocked.

" Still swinging that so-called sword with no skill? " Ontai-Wasupu retorted, unfazed. It was all Inuyasha could do not to react to that.

" At least i have a real weapon! " He snapped angrily.

" Heh heh heh. " The demon laughed. " You are so easily angered, Hanyou. It's fun to watch you scowl. " Why you.. Inuyasha growled, tightening his grip on the Tetsusaiga. There must be a way to get this bastard!

" Inuyasha! " He heard a familiar voice.

" Kagome? " He called back, glancing away from the demon to the Miko stepping away from the manor.

" Inuyasha! " She had called to the dog demon hanyou not too far from her. In return she heard his voice call her. His sweet voice.. Snap out of it! Kagome quickly scolded herself. She could see blood stains all over his Haori, making the red cloth a darker crimson. Though she knew such wounds were nothing to him. Still.. She sighed. He is hurt.. And Ontai-Wasupu is not.. He's having trouble in this battle..

" Kagome! " She heard his voice call again. Instantly she snapped out of her thoughts. " Is Miroku still breathing? "

" Oh. " Kagome uttered automatically. " Er, yeah, he's ok! " For now. She added silently. She must have shifted her expression thinking that, because Inuyasha now wore a look of concern. He knows something is wrong.. But something is wrong.. Which is why i came.

Remembering her mission, Kagome turned her head and looked up at the wax hive, towering over her like an ant near a shoe. As she thought, the strange blue light surrounding it had disappeared, and was now enveloped in that strange, eery red. Its the same colour as the shield around Miroku! Kagome noticed. There must be a connection! But how to stop it...

" Whoa! " She heard Inuyasha gasp. Turning away from the hive, Kagome watched Inuyasha barely dodge an attack from Ontai-Wasupu. That demon is fast..! She thought. Inuyasha can't win if the battle prolongs much longer! How...

" Inuyasha! " Kagome then shouted when a sudden thought struck her mind. " Attack the hive! "

" What? " Inuyasha muttered, landing on the ground after dodging the attack.

" What? " Ontai-Wasupu repeated soon after.

" Attack the hive! " Kagome repeated. " I think it's what's giving Ontai-Wasupu power! " It was half the story, at least. She also suspected it was what was creating the shield around Miroku. Lets stick to facts. She thought.

" Heh, you got it! " Inuyasha grinned. He turned towards the wax and mud nest that hung above the manor. Hope she's sure about this.. Inuyasha thought as a picture of the hive dislodging from the wall and crashing onto the manor filled his mind. But beside the haunting picture, he raised his blade.

" Wind Scar! " The Tetsusaiga came crashing down, unleashing powerful blade-like whips of wind which not only tore up the ground, but tore right through the hive. When dust rustled from the dirt settled, it was clear the attack had done great damage. A whole section of the hive had disintegrated, the exposed area showing small slashes where the wind had not cut cleanly. The red glow had also disappeared.

" W-why.. you.. " Ontai-Wasupu stammered, staring up at his broken home. " You.. " He shifted his gaze to Kagome. Ontai-Wasupu's eyes were full of grief and hatred for the maiden that suggested the destruction of his home. Without warning, he started dashing at a great speed towards Kagome, it's claws extended and ready to rip through her soft, human flesh.

" You bitch! " he hissed. " I'll slaughter you! " He was now only a few feet from Kagome.

" Kagome! " Inuyasha shouted. He tried to save her, but the wasps blocked his access, creating another wall, thick and long. Kagome could no longer see him. But it didn't strike her Inuyasha was no longer able to save her, her attention focused on the angry demon rushing towards her at a great speed. Oh... Was her minds only thought. She could only stand there, watching the demon come closer. All this happened in only two seconds. Ontai-Wasupu brought his claws down on Kagome. Then...

Crash!

" Eh..? " Kagome managed to utter, her mind still reeling in shock. Ontai-Wasupu had stopped. He had stopped so suddenly. It was clear he had hit something. Ontai-Wasupu jumped back, surprised himself at the incident. At first he wore a dazed and confused, yet still angered, look. But quickly his eyes filled with knowing as he focused on something behind Kagome.

" Monk! " He spat, glaring at the figure behind Kagome.

" Miroku? " Kagome hastily turned around to look behind her. Just like Ontai-Wasupu, Kagome could see Miroku in the doorway of the manor. Sango was beside him, trying to help him stay up, Shippo on her shoulder. Miroku was breathing heavily, leaning against the door frame and slouching slightly. In his extended arm was his Shakujou, pointing towards Kagome and shaking slightly, like it was so heavy Miroku could barely hold it up. He looked so weak.. Yet still he stood and managed to create a shield strong enough to protect Kagome, even if only for a second. Kagome smiled. It gladdened her to see him free of the shield. It must have been the hive keeping it up after all. She decided.

" Heh. " Ontai-Wasupu grunted, trying to recover from the events that just took place. " Looks like your still moving, Monk. But it won't be for long, once i kill this Miko your so desperately trying to save! " Clearly he knew Miroku wasn't strong enough to create another shield. Kagome heard Sango gasp behind her. Ontai-Wasupu rushed forward again. And again he hit the shield, but this time the demon easily broke through it.

" Argh...! " She heard Miroku's frustrated cry. Ontai-Wasupu grinned and began to descend his claws on Kagome once again.

" Don't you dare! " Inuyasha's blade cut in between Kagome and Ontai-Wasupu, the wasp demons claws bouncing off the Tetsusaiga harmlessly. Defensively, the demon jumped back away from Inuyasha, back into the collection of wasps that had failed to contain the hanyou. Glancing back, Inuyasha appeared to be taking in the scene. " Are you ok, Kagome? " He finally spoke.

" Yeah. " She replied, looking over to him.

" Sango! " Inuyasha then stated, returning to business. " Get Miroku out of here! " Sango quickly nodded.

" You... You can't beat him... with those wasps around.. " Miroku stammered, struggling to find further energy to speak. Kagome could tell, as she looked back at him, that he wanted to help, to not flee from the fight. But he was having enough trouble staying alive than fighting.

" Don't be a hero! " Inuyasha snapped. " Your too weak to fight! Leave here now and you might live! " Sango started to gently tug on his arm, trying to drag him away yet not knock him over. Though Miroku seemed to have more strength than they all thought, because he easily managed to shrug her off. Or maybe Sango just wasn't using enough force.

" I.. I'm staying, Inuyasha..! " He spoke firmly, yet weakly. Kagome knew Inuyasha didn't want him there. Though, as usual, he pretended not to care.

" Feh! " He growled, turning away from Miroku and back to Ontai-Wasupu who was carefully observing the situation. " Your funeral. " Without a second glance, Inuyasha charged towards Ontai-Wasupu. Though Ontai-Wasupu, taking no chances, easily bounded out of the way, his wasps still hovering over his shoulder.

" Miroku! " Kagome heard Sango's urgent voice. " Quickly, you must get out of here! Your too weak! "

" Not yet... " She then heard Miroku's exhausted, weak voice. Not yet? Kagome thought. What business does he have that is stopping him from leaving now?

" Prepare to die, you bastard! " Inuyasha barked at the demon as he swiftly dodged Ontai-Wasupu's claws.

" Even without that monk's help, you still can't hit me! " Ontai-Wasupu shouted back. He had lost his cool when the hive was damaged, now not interested in mocking Inuyasha, but killing him.

" I hit you before and I'll hit you again! " Inuyasha quickly retorted. He unleashed a now over-used Wind Scar at Ontai-Wasupu, only killing a small collection of wasps.

" Keep killing them! " Ontai-Wasupu finally smirked. " You didn't destroy the nursery! " In the corner of her eye, Kagome noticed more wasps flying out of a hole in the torn area of the hive. Oh! She gasped.

" Inuyasha, more of them are coming! " Kagome warned him, pointing into the sky where the new wasps were.

" Rrggh! " Inuyasha growled. " I don't care! "

" Heh heh, big mistake! " Ontai-Wasupu threatened. Then, once the new wasps joined the group, Ontai-Wasupu pointed to the Hanyou. "Kill him! "

All the wasps buzzed towards Inuyasha at a great speed. Inuyasha jumped back, but it didn't greaten the distance much.

" Inuyasha! " Kagome called automatically. They were going to sting him! Suddenly Kagome's view was blocked as a body in black and purple jumped in front of her, staggering slightly.

" Oh- Miroku! " She said, startled.

" Stand back.. Lady Kagome! " Miroku gasped. He then raised his hand. " Wind Tunnel! " Both Ontai-Wasupu and Inuyasha noticed Miroku before the powerful vortex in his hand was unleashed, and both of them easily got out of the way, though the wasps weren't so lucky. Without a chance, all of the colony were sucked into Miroku's hand, each one making a barely audible sluurp as it was sucked in. After a few seconds not one remained, and Miroku quickly closed the Kazaana. It didn't take long for the wasps venom to take affect. With a pained groan, Miroku quickly slumped to the ground, laying on his side holding his right wrist, his eyes closed and a weak and pained expression plastered on his face

" Oh-! " Kagome heard Sango gasp.

I think that'll do for this chapter. Next chapter I'll include what happens to Miroku, and what goes on in the battle now that the wasps are gone. heheh, stay tuned for chapter nine! (grins)