Chapter 8

August 11, 2006

Catbuddy: Lol, I'm glad you liked the first line, and I hadn't even planed it that way! I thought it was so funny that you reviewed like that. Thank you for being so supportive, and I'm glad you think this is awesome, I am beginning to wonder what makes this fic so much less popular than its prequel. I mean, has my style changed, or is it boring? Idk, do you have any ideas? You will have to wait a little bit until you find out about Kagome and Yui, which I too am kind of sad isn't in here more, but I can't write her in if the fic is from Kagome's POV. She will be in here later, I promise. And it's cool that you told me to update soon, I like to hear that people want me to update more than just once a week, makes me happy. But yes, I do update on Fridays, unless I am feeling a muse coming forth, then I make a deal with my reviewer(s). Ok, now that you have a full chapter to read before the real thing, I'm going to go, thank you for the review, and hope you enjoy this chapter as well, let me know, please!

Angela: Now, I can't tell you if Yui is saved, that would ruin the whole thing! Lol, you'll just have to stay tuned to find out. I'm glad you like my fics, here is your update, enjoy, and thanks for your review.

RamblingPhilosopher: Lol, shall I answer why or why not your three theories? Let me know, and I shall do so. (Insert smile here X) Thank you for the review, hope you enjoy this chapter.

iNuQTpIe: No, not many people/youkai died. Kagome was pointing out how Arashi and his youkai were toying with them, making them suffer. Glad to see you back, btw, you had me worried, thought I had lost one of my few faithfuls. Thank you for the reviews, hope you enjoy chapter eight as well.

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns the Inu-Yasha gang, I own the others, please don't sue or steal.

"Kagome!" I roar at the wall that now separates us. "Damn it! Kagome!" I shout again, this time pounding my fist against the hard stone. I pull back slightly and raise Shinsei over my head. My mate's face fuels my attack as I swing my sword down, only this time, the wall is not damaged. "What?" I breathe before a sharp pain bites into my left shoulder. I whirl around snarling.

There are at least thirty tiger youkai facing me. They have created a semicircle to block me against the wall. I drop into a fighting stance, holding Shinsei out in from of me.

"No need to worry, hanyou, I'll take good care of you miko." Arashi's laugh makes me turn my snarl back to the bridge of the castle.

"Like hell you will." I swing my sword in an arch horizontal with the ground, taking out all of the tiger youkai in front of me. They collapse in pieces. I turn a death glare back to Arashi as his army falls. "I will kill you."

I crouch low, my legs like coiled snakes, ready to strike, as I stay intent on Arashi. Rage engulfs me as the bastard smiles. I allow my legs to uncoil, sending me silently straight up the castle wall to the bridge. The youkai doesn't move as I land in a crouch again, directly in front of him.

"Welcome to my castle, hanyou."

"Shut-up and fight." I jump forward, swinging Shinsei at Arashi's stomach. The arrogant grin never leaves his face as he dodges my attack with ease.

"What are you swinging at?" His taunt grinds down my spine, but I don't reply. There is no way I way I will loose my family now, I have to focus on defeating him. "Is that the best you've got?" He laughs and turns his back to me.

"Bastard!" I shout as I jump forward, my sword poised to impale the youkai. Quicker than I can follow, Arashi whirls around, blocking Shinsei with a flick of his wrist. As I move past him, I feel his claws grab into my back. My momentum is stopped instantly as Arashi's claws dig into my flesh, pinning me to the ground at his feet.

My fangs bang together and then slide past each other to dig into my lip and the roof of my mouth as my face is slammed into the hard rock of the bridge. "How are you doing hanyou?" The bastard laughs, holding even pressure on my back. I turn my head to spit out the mouthful of blood at the youkai's feet. He laughs again, before he thrusts his hand further into me. I howl in pain as his hand wraps around my spine, his fingers laced between my ribs.

Oh Kami!

The pain is unbearable, yet Arashi's hand does not clench closed to snap the bone. I pant as I try to ignore the pain. I plaster a grin on my face as I address the youkai. "Now…what…?" I growl up at him.

Arashi slowly leans forward, his hand never moving from its position in my back. "Now I go play with the rest of your little family." He whispers right in my ear. I growl deep in my chest as I kick back and up, aiming for his chest. The youkai jumps backward, just escaping my attack, letting go of my spine.

Thank Kami for that.

I stumble back to my feet, dragging Shinsei back into a defensive position. "You haven't beaten me yet." I speak without panting, but moments later I have to gasp to get enough air into my lungs. I don't speak as Arashi laughs again.

"I do grow tired of playing with you though." His voice pounds into my head as he and his twin walk toward me. I stumble back a step.

Then another.

I shake my head, trying to clear it, but I can feel the blood under my feet that has leaked from my wounds. I've lost too much blood; I can already see the dark spots on the side of my vision. I stop as rocks move under my feet. I glance over my shoulder to see that I am backed against the edge of the bridge. I turn my attention back to Arashi with a growl.

"It is time for you to die." He says coolly.

"I don't think so." I lunge forward once more, hoping Shinsei will be able to connect with the youkai's flesh this time. Again he laughs, but unlike before, this time Arashi moves toward me, not away. I stumble in surprise, which gives the youkai his opening.

His fist slams into my stomach and sends me flying back. My body is frozen as I drift through the air, leaving the castle bridge and falling toward the scared ground. Kagome… Yui… Their smiling faces fill my vision.

"Inu-Yasha!" A voice echoes in my ears as time speeds up again. I wait for the impact of my body hitting the ground, but it never comes. A pair of strong arms catches me carefully, and the shock of the action fills me. My eyes widen and focus on the green ones locked with mine.

"Shippo?" I breathe. The kit's eyes stare worriedly at me.

"Inu-Yasha, what happened?" His childlike voice is back as he asks. I wince and try to sit up, but my body protests and doesn't listen.

"Arashi knocked me off the bridge…" I mutter. Shippo rolls his eyes, but they quickly refill with concern.

"I know that much, but where's Kagome?"

"She made it into the castle."

"What!" The kit's screech rings into my ears. I moan inwardly at the added pain. "Kagome's in the castle, ALONE!"

"Shippo…" I growl in warning. He quiets instantly. I look up to see his calm, adult façade again on his face.

"I'm going after her." Shippo states. He sets me back carefully and slowly straightens to his feet.

"Shippo, you will not." I say, sting up despite my body's protest. The kit doesn't stop. "Shippo!" I growl, struggling to my feet. "Stop!"

"I won't let anything happen to Kagome."

I stumble forward, grabbing the youkai's arm, forcing him to stop. "Shippo, be reasonable."

His head slowly turns toward me. "When I was younger, I couldn't protect her, and now that I can, I won't let you or anyone else stop me." He says quietly. I can't speak as I see suddenly what Kagome had been telling me; Shippo really had grown up since we had last seen him. I release his arm and straighten up at his side. I nod at him.

"Let's break down that wall." I say firmly. The Kitsune nods as we turn toward the castle as one. We let out a battle roar and charge the closest castle wall. Ten feet before we reach the wall, a blue barrier knocks us back.

"What?" Shippo speaks my mind.

"Arashi somehow put a barrier up, damn!" I growl, tightening my grip on Shinsei.

"We need to find another way in." I nod at the Kitsune's words.

Do I ever wish I still had Tetsusaiga to break this barrier…

"Let's move." I take off with Shippo just behind me.

We'll find a way in, just hang on Kagome, Yui. I keep their faces in my mind to keep me strong and fight off the pain of the scratch on my back. A small smile graces my lips as I think of what Kagome would say to my thought.

I'm coming you two… I glance at the Kitsune running at my side and change my thought. We're coming…

A/N: I know this is short, and I apologize, but I needed to put this in here. Next chapter will be longer… I hope, my muse seems to have vanished…again. But anyhow, please leave this struggling author a review, and make me happy, for school starts in less than two weeks… alright, I'll be quiet now, have a great week everyone, see ya next Friday!

Myst