Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, and I am glad I don't. I'd just ruin the story.
Chapter Five: Danger and Courage
InuYasha looked down the well once more, then turned his back, and walked off. They had heard rumors of a shard, and they had to go collect it. Sango and Miroku wouldn't be able to handle it, even with Kirara's help. So it was up to him to help out, much as he wanted to stay by the well. He started into a light jog, heading for Kaede's hut, so he could travel alongside his companions. When he got close, his ears flattened and he groaned at a distinctive slap sound. 'Oh no. What did he do now?'
As he approached the hut, he saw Miroku on the ground, a big bump on his head and a red handprint on his face. Sango was standing over him, Hiraikotsu in hand, and shouting at the clearly unconscious monk. "Hey. Guys, shut up and get ready. I wanna get this over with and find the damned shard, WITHOUT killing ourselves." He prodded the monk with his toe, who was just starting to wake up. "Hey, monk, get up. We hafta get going now." Miroku groaned and stood up unsteadily. Sango glanced at him, her anger still clear. She moved to stand next to Kirara. "Well he's NOT riding with me. He can walk, and it'd be what he deserves if he exhausts himself."
InuYasha rolled his eyes, and moved over to the monk. "You know, Miroku, she's gonna be the death of you one day." Sighing, he turned away. "Alright. Hop on, and I'll carry you there."
The monk gratefully climbed onto InuYasha's back as second later, he took off running into the forest. Kirara and Sango followed in the air behind them.
They ran for a few minutes, then burst into a clearing. A huge cat youkai stood in the center, snarling at a few cowering humans. It let out a hiss, and launched through the air.
"Shit!" Yelled InuYasha, who dropped Miroku, and ran towards the demon. "Sankon Tessou!" He yelled, charging towards the beast. Long, golden arcs of light cut through the air and into the youkai, who let out a scream, and turned towards InuYasha. It leaped, and InuYasha dodged, but not fast enough. "Damn. That's not going to help at all. But I can still beat you one handed!" He yelled out the last part to the youkai. His left arm was dripping blood, from a gash in his shoulder. He struggled, and drew Tessaiga, holding it one handed in his right hand. He backed up a few steps, held Tessaiga in front of him. 'Now's the time to strike' he thought, searching for a weakness. Raising Tessaiga high in one hand, he swung it down with a cry of "Kaze no Kizu!" A rush of wind and light raced towards the youkai, who jumped aside and laughed at InuYasha, who was struggling to lift Tessaiga off the ground.
"Baka! Did you think to catch me so unawares?" The youkai leaped into a tree. "I claim the power of a Shikon shard! It will not be so easy to beat me!"
A whirring filled the air. The youkai leaped up with easy grace, and reached down to snatch Hiraikotsu out of the air. Laughing, he broke it in half easily, and threw it to the ground. "As if so puny a human weapon could beat me!" While he laughed, InuYasha seized his chance. Focusing on the youkai, he taunted it. "You may be fast, but betcha you don't have the power to do anything aside from physical attacks!" He raised the Tessaiga guardedly. It began to pulse, and he could see the Kaze no Kizu wrapping itself around the blade.
"Ha!" cried out the youkai. "Shows what you know!" With a hissing roar, the youkai swiped its claws through the air, leaving red, glowing streaks flying towards InuYasha.
'Perfect' thought InuYasha, as he brought his sword across the light flying towards him. "Bakryuha!" The Kaze no Kizu wrapped around the blade transferred itself to the other youkai's attack, and reversed it towards its originator. The youkai cried out, and tried to doge, but was to slow. With a howl, it disintegrated.
InuYasha stood, barely, by the edge of the clearing. His vision was blurring from blood loss. He wobbled for a moment, then sank to his knees, then fell forward to the ground. His last coherent thought was 'Kagome…'