Chapter 9

August 18, 2006

Catbuddy: Glad that I was able to really make Shippo grown up, and yes, he can fight now, he might show us some of his talents later on… Idk though… lol. I'm not sure, is that a good thing? Well, thank you for your review, hope you enjoy chapter nine.

iNuQTpIe: Thank you for your review, and I'm glad you got to see your dad. Here is the next chapter, updated on Friday. (Thanks to the stupid muse who decided to show up on Thursday night I was afraid this wouldn't be done in time, but she is happily eating a cookie, so maybe she'll stay.) Hope you enjoy this one, and since you have been here for a while, maybe you can answer the questions: Has my writing gotten worse? Or—Is this story too boring? Let me know what you think, okay, enjoy chapter nine.

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

The only thing I have to lead me is Yui's aura as I run through the winding tunnels. Arashi really built an underground castle, probably bigger than the one above ground. Everything is dark after I leave the first level, no torches to take away the ink. I close my eyes; they are doing no good anyway, and use my senses to see around me.

The tunnel to my left, that should take me deeper, to Yui. I skid to a halt as I "see" a far drop just in front of me. Damn. I search the darkness for someway to get around the obstacle. My attention lands on a small ledge on the right side. I can slip across on that, carefully.

I reach my mind out around me a little further to make sure I am still alone. The others are still fighting above; no youkai or human has come under the castle. I take a deep breath and move to cross the hole on the ledge.

Just one foot in front of the other… This would be so much easier if I could see. A rock falls just under my foot as I lift it to take another step. I don't hear the echo of it hitting the bottom. Maybe not. I focus on getting across once again.

As I set my second foot down firmly on the other side of the gully, a sudden pain rips through my mind. I cry out and clutch my head between my hands. "Inu-Yasha!" I scream as I feel his agony. Damn, his fight with Arashi isn't going well. "Just hang in there baby…" I whisper and build a wall in my mind so the pain isn't so intense. Now I have to focus on making sure that both Yui and Inu-Yasha don't get any worse.

My pace quickens.

I jog another five minutes before I come to a door guarded on either side by two large statues. I can sense an evil youki surrounding both larger than life men as I slow to a stop. Like when we tried to get back to Inu-Yasha's father's grave? I wondered, thinking maybe the statues would come to life just like the guardians to the land between this and the next.

I stretch my mind out again, seeing if there are any obvious traps around to keep me from the door. Something brushes against my mind as it reaches to see on the other side of the door. What is that…? I don't completely realize what it is until a small whimper echoes from the other side of the wood.

"Yui?" I call lightly, almost afraid to hope the only thing separating me from my daughter is this door. The whimper stops at my voice.

"Mama? Is that you, Mama?" Yui's thick voice comes back. My heart races and I go to move forward.

"It's me baby. Just hold on, I'm coming."

"Not so fast, miko." A shadow says as it appears between me and my daughter. I stop short and instantly swing my arm up to block the fist en rout with my chest.

"Arashi," I snarl as I grab his wrist and hold it above my head. "Out of my way." I add. His hot breath seeps across my face as the youkai leans toward me.

"Did you think I would let you take her back so easily?" He growls softly into my ear.

"Bastard!" I shout and push him away. As soon as I release my hold on the youkai's flesh I reach to my side and pull out my sword. "You can't stop me." My voice is calm this time, but my heart pounds in anger and fear.

"Oka!" Yui screams in terror.

"It's ok Yui, I'll be there soon." I reply to her frantic calls. I block a blow from Arashi's sword as he attacks me again. "You must want to die today." I say turning my attention back to the youkai.

"Not quite, but I do hope you will provide more entertainment than your hanyou mate." He pushes me back this time, but I am back in his face in an instant, swinging my sword against his. I have to control the anger and fear that crushes my heart for my family at his words.

Inu-Yasha… I hesitate to check on his life force again, and Arashi takes the opening to trip me up. I stumble backward and fall against the ground hard. The wind is knocked out my lungs as I feel the youkai slink toward me in the darkness. I struggle to sit up and raise my sword above my head to block the downward swing of Arashi's steel. I grin and a low laugh leaves my lips as my arms shake with the effort of holding off the youkai's attack. "I'm not that easy to kill." I chuckle lightly.

He returns the action as his power increases. "I hoped not, miko." I can feel the grin on his lips as my laugh turns into a growl and I force miko power into my arms to keep them sturdy.

I let the power break out of my hands and throw Arashi off me to crash into the far wall. "I will kill you if you don't get out of my way." I force my legs not to shake as I climb into a standing position.

"Really now," I can feel him move as he speaks. "And how do you plan on doing that?" He asks as he circles around to my right. I follow with my mind, but pretend I can't see in the dark.

"Everyone makes mistakes, even you, Arashi." I reply, running different plans through my head. He knows about my sword abilities, but what about my arrows? I slowly slide my bow off my shoulder and put my sword back in its sheath.

"Everyone hu? That would include you as well then." His voice comes directly from my right. I just need to keep him talking.

"It has been a very long time since I have made a mistake in a fight." I pull an arrow out of its quiver hopefully unnoticed by Arashi. His laugh comes from behind me this time.

"Well, I guess it is time you stumble again, miko." He dashes forward as soon as he finishes, attacking my back. I whirl around and pull my arrow back, filling it with power before releasing it straight into the youkai's chest. His eyes widen in surprise for a second before the light blinds me. I close my eyes again but do not turn away, instead standing prepared to defend myself if for some reason I missed.

The light slowly fades and there is no sign of Arashi. I stretch my mind out once quickly to assure myself that he is gone.

That seemed too easy.

When everything turns up blank, I turn to the door being guarded by the two statues. The youki around them seems to have vanished. I take a small step forward, watching both of them in the darkness.

"Yui?" I call softly as I pass the threshold the men make. My hand reaches out to press lightly on the wooden door.

"Mama, are you alright?" Her small voice comes back. I sigh silently in relief that she is still okay.

"Everything's fine. Do you know how to open the door?" There are no handles on this side, and I doubt that there is a way out from her side.

"No, that youkai just walked in and out. He must have been psychic?"

"I don't know, but it's time to get you out of there. Stand away from the door, I'm going to use an arrow to break through."

"Okay." I feel her move before I step back a few steps to take aim at the wood. I let the arrow fly and watch as it disintegrates the door. As the light fades once again, I run forward to catch my baby in my arms. "Oka, Mama!" She shouts as she wraps her arms around my neck in a death grip.

"Oh Yui…" She's safe… I hold her closer fighting off the tears to feel her in my arms. I pull back slightly to look at her. "Did he hurt you?" I whisper as I run my hand through her hair. She shakes her head.

"He brought me here and left me in that room." She sniffles and wipes at her eyes. "Where are Papa and Hokori?"

"They're outside, with some other people I want you to meet."

"Can we leave now?" I can feel the small amount of fear still tinting Yui's mind as she holds tight to my hand.

"Yes, baby." I nod and lean down to pick her up onto my hip. "Let's go." I turn around and my heart stops.

"Mama?" Yui asks. "What's wrong, why did you stop?" Her fear doubles as familiar laughter echoes around us.

"That was quite a trick, but I'm not that easy to kill." Arashi throws my words back at me. I try not to quake in fear at something powerful enough to survive my arrow. I press Yui's head to my shoulder and hold it there.

"Let her go." I breathe to the youkai.

"But she is the one I want."

"Take me instead. My miko powers can make you more powerful than a hanyou could."

"Are you proposing a deal?"

"Leave my family alone and I'll stay here with you."

"Hm, a very interesting proposal." He appears to think and then shakes his head. My heart drops. "Not enough."

"Not enough?" I repeat in astonishment.

"Become fully mine. Kill your mate to save your daughter."

A/N: I know, another little cliffy thing, but bear with me. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know please, lots o reviews makes a happy author. Okay, hope to hear from you all,

Myst