Blanket Disclaimer: The writer does not own any characters created by Rumiko Takahashi but like everyone else wishes she did. All original characters or concepts are the author's Inuma Asahi De's (with the exception of historical figures).
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jinenji's Reason
Inuyasha ran through the forest, his feet moving far slower than he was used to, he heard Kagome's foots pounding behind him but knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with him for long, even if he was human. He pushed himself as the cries grew louder ahead of him, he felt his legs start to burn as he used human muscles that protested violently. His eyes scanned ahead watching as the small cabin came into view, a pillar of smoke nearly stopping him in his tracks. It wasn't large enough to be from the cabin burning but it truly had the potential.
The sounds of a riot, the sounds of villagers screaming, pushed him to run harder, one constant thought keeping his legs moving. "They found them." He bit his lip and continued even faster than was humanly possible, Kagome's footsteps no longer behind him, he was running too fast for a woman who had been raised to only walk daintily to even dream of keeping up with.
He entered the clearing nearly tripping over a pile of firewood that was kept close to the house, the sight that greeted him making his heart freeze.
A mob of villagers had surrounded the house, standing in a semi-circle of violence, torches and various farming equipment held high in their hands as they screamed at the tall timid figure before them, Jinenji. The large half demon was attempting to stand his ground, his blue eyes panicked as he took in the various sharp objects and guns being thrust into his face. But it wasn't Jinenji that truly concerned Inuyasha, it was Haniyama who was lying behind him, her weapon of choice (a piece of the firewood) beside her on the ground as she laid still, unmoving on the cold soil, a bit of blood running down her face from where she had been struck.
One of the villagers stepped forward out of the crowd, a pitch fork in his hand aimed dangerously at Jinenji's mid section. Jinenji snarled (a sound Inuyasha hadn't been aware he could make) and slammed his feet into the ground as hard as he could causing the earth to shake beneath them. "Leave!" Jinenji cried as he stepped closer to his mother, his sharp eyes commanding but still scared, still anxious.
"No!" A brave villager called out, stepping forward, eyes angry and filled with hate. "You leave, you and that whore."
Inuyasha felt his blood boil, a distant memory from a time so long ago, hitting him full force.
"Leave you bitch." The sound of the man's voice, a shadowy figure from a time long past. "Get the hell out you demon's whore!"
Before Inuyasha knew what he was doing he found himself standing in front of Jinenji, one of the guns he kept around his middle drawn, pointed directly at the man who was threatening the apprehensive half demon. "He said to leave you bastards," Inuyasha snarled and growled at the same time, his dark eyes filled with malice as he cocked his gun. "Or are you so deafened by your own stupidity that you couldn't hear?"
The crowd's shouting died down as they stared at Inuyasha confused, looking at him as if they knew who he was but couldn't place his face. Jinenji had no such problem. "Mr. Inuyasha," He identified correctly his voice small, meant only for Inuyasha's human ears. "It's your time?"
Inuyasha nodded easily but didn't take the time to look back at the other half demon who was now standing behind him, "Is your mother okay?"
Jinenji turned his large head and glanced at his mother, she was breathing and he could tell by her scent that the bleeding had substantially decreased but still was a slight threat to her health. He sniffed the air slightly, his nose nowhere near as good as Inuyasha's but good enough to tell that she was in no fear of dying. "Mama will be fine." He concluded for Inuyasha. "She will awake soon—but her head will not feel too well."
"Hopefully you have a herb for that." Inuyasha attempted to joke as he eyed the silent villagers. The lot of them were tensed, as if trying to telepathically decide what they were going to do now that there was another 'human' defending Jinenji.
"You should run," Jinenji spoke up from behind him, his voice still soft but now starting to sound earnest. "You are in danger here as you stand now."
Inuyasha smiled despite himself and spared a glance in the other demons direction. "Don't think for a second I'd leave because of something as trivial as that."
Jinenji frowned deeply and shifted his large body weight. "But you're in danger."
"Who gives a shit?" Inuyasha cursed as he eyed the villagers a smirk forming on his face as he shifted a little closer towards Jinenji. The villagers were slowly starting to move forward as if they had collectively come to a decision to prepare for an attack. "I'm not leaving you behind," Inuyasha spoke seriously as he eyed the men inching towards them. "You wouldn't leave another half demon alone to face these kinds of shitheads, would ya?"
Jinenji watched him for a second, taking in the shorter man's broad back and squared shoulders; watching as he shook slightly, his body language negating his strong carefree words. This man was scared, at least a little bit, he knew he was in danger, he knew he was standing up for someone he had just met and yet—he didn't seem to care. A feeling Jinenji had never really felt before overtook him. It was warm, this feeling, warm and happy. "No, I would not leave."
"Good, we're on the same page then." Inuyasha smirked and licked his lips.
"Inuyasha Jinenji?" A shout came from their left, a very familiar shout followed by the distinct sound of someone panting out of breath.
Inuyasha's blood ran cold as the sound of Kagome's voice filled him, striking him to his very core. He turned his head his gun lowering slightly as he watched her run and stop at the edge of the clearing as if knowing it was dangerous to get any closer. He had, in all honesty, for a moment forgotten about the girl. The rush of adrenaline had overtaken him, the idea of an impending fight when he was in such an adverse position had downright taken up all his thoughts—and now all he could think of was Kagome—Kagome and the feeling of complete and utter terror. "Kagome, get out of here!" He shouted loudly his human eyes filling with a panic he couldn't hide.
Unfortunately for Inuyasha, Kagome was a girl that never did listen, especially when her eyes fell on someone who was incomparably hurt. "Mrs. Haniyama!" She gasped completely ignoring Inuyasha, completely ignoring her own safety as she flew into the clearing all thoughts of exhaustion from earlier leaving her. Quickly she made her way towards the elder and knelt down, her hands reaching for the head wound, faintly touching the blood before drawing back to rip a piece of her pants.
"Miss Kagome." Jinenji mumbled as he dared to turn around, watching as the young girl put pressure on his mother's head, her eyes watching the older woman's troubled breathing with pain.
"Isn't that the girl from earlier?" One of the villagers said just loud enough for everyone, villager and Inuyasha alike, to hear.
Inuyasha hissed from the question, a feeling of dread slowly building in him. He brought his gun back up quickly, pointing it out into the crowd his eyes trained on the villagers who were now all starting to mumble amongst themselves; words he would normally be able to make out but because of his current human state, were deafened. "Damn it Kagome." Inuyasha cursed, "I told you to fucking run!"
"You want me to run?" Kagome growled between clenched teeth as she held the makeshift bandage to Haniyama's head delicately. "Mrs. Haniyama's hurt and you want me to run?"
The villagers reacted to her voice with more whispers.
"You're not safe here." Inuyasha continued ignoring her words and the villager's murmurs. "Take the horse and go back to Port, now!"
"No!" Kagome fired back her voice changing pitch sounding desperate, she was desperate. "He's human." The thought echoed in her mind as she stared at the mob before them. "He can't take them on like this, right? He has to be weaker than normal. Humans are weaker than demons so without his demon blood—," She wouldn't allow the thought to continue, she closed her eyes tightly and forced her hands to stop shaking as she put pressure on the wound. "I won't leave you," She told him just loud enough that he could hear before she raised her head conviction in her blazing eyes. "Not when you're like this!"
"So the legends are true."
A hush settled over their argument and over the mob of villagers as one old man stepped from the crowd a torch held high above his head, illuminating the clearing with its flickering flame. He stopped only a short distance away from Inuyasha, his eyes staring at him old and wise yet filled with hate and learned malice.
"You're the man from earlier, aren't you?" The old man smirked his eyes twinkling with both hatred and a sickening happiness.
"But Mr. Carver?" A younger man stepped forward timidly. "The other man was a demon, this guy is clearly—," The young man pointed at Inuyasha as if his explanation was already a hundred percent apparent. "A human."
The old man, one Mr. Carver, chuckled turning his back to Inuyasha to look at the villagers. "My father once told me the secret of the half demon race, their most valuable undisclosed problem." The man licked his lips. "The Time of Vulnerability." He turned slowly as the crowd began to mumble again, curiosity overtaking it as they watched the old man turn away from them back to the 'human' looking man. "Once a month," The old man continued making eye contact with Inuyasha as a dark smirk filled his every feature. "They shall loose all traces of their demon blood and become nothing more than a mere mortal." His hands spread wide encompassing all the human's around him. "Just like us."
Inuyasha's heart stopped in his chest as the clearing exploded into a fury of simultaneous voices.
"It can't be!" A woman shouted irritated.
"No look, he has the same face." Another yelled over the loud crowd.
"Yeah!" Another shouted in agreement as he raised his pitchfork to draw attention. "And that was the girl he was with." He pointed straight at Kagome, his words causing an even greater commotion as people readily agreed that he was in fact right, and thus the old man was right.
"Silence!" Mr. Carver yelled with one hand in the air causing the commotion to halt as every man and woman quieted, instantly respecting whatever it was he was going to say. "Am I right boy?" The old man took a step forward, not even deterred by Inuyasha's cocked and loaded gun. "I am, aren't I? You're a half demon at your time of vulnerability." It was a statement not a question.
Inuyasha tensed, his mind racing as he tried to think of what he should do, how he should react. He wanted to glance behind him but he knew he shouldn't dare take his eyes away from the mob of angry people before him. Still, he thought about looking at her, at Kagome. He really wanted to. He had an urge, a need, he wanted to see her, to see her face because her face was comfort, her face was strength, her face would make him think faster, would make him understand what the hell he should do but alas, he couldn't see her face. "What the fuck do I do?" He gulped still not daring to respond to the man before him. "I'm stuck, I'm human and Kagome—," He forced himself not to turn. "I have to protect her but fuck," He bit his lip hard. "How do I protect her now, like this?"
"Inuyasha?"
He clutched the gun harder at the sound of Kagome's whisper, he could just barely make it out but it was still ostensibly loud to his ears. She sounded panicked, she sounded scared, her earlier bravado gone now. "Damn it!" He thought to himself, it had been a long time since he had found himself in a corner such as this, a very long time, a time before he had even had Miroku. "I should've brought him." He thought instantly as the name pounded in his head. "If I would'a brought him we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Are you going to answer me or stare, half demon?" The old man mused as he grew impatient of Inuyasha's silence. "Or can I assume I'm correct by your silence?"
Inuyasha took a deep breath and dared to close his eyes for just a second. A shockwave went through the crowd as he did, people whispering about the strange action, talking quietly amongst themselves, wondering why he was doing something so risky when he was in so much danger. "I fight to live—." Inuyasha told himself, the phrase calming his nerves slightly as it always did. He opened his eyes faintly as he raised himself to his full height.
In the back of his mind an image filled him, a memory filled him, Kagome at the height of her power, those grey eyes enchanting as she asked the fated question.
"Do you have something to live for?"
Her voice engulfed him and he smiled looking Mr. Carver in the eye, daring him to say a word as he thought only to himself, "—I live for her." He took a deep penetrating breath. "I fight for her." He let the breath out slowly. "And now it's time to fight."
Mr. Carver gave him a strange look as his dark penetrating eyes seemed to stare all the way through to the other man's very soul. "Half demon?" He questioned, unnerved by the eerie calm that had settled over Inuyasha.
"You're right." Inuyasha answered him finally as his mind internally raced. "I have four guns on me, and the revolver." He eyed said gun as it rested in his hand, the others hidden in his coat discreetly. "There're seven bullets in the revolver and then four in the pistols. So I got eleven shoots—damn." He eyed the crowd. "There's more than eleven people here, that's for sure." He smirked, "I've had worse." He would have laughed at the thought had his current situation not been so increasingly pressing. Now was not the time to laugh, now was the time to fight, to stand up and protect her, it was all he could do. "I am a half demon," He called to the villagers, his voice strong. "And I stand before you as nothing more than a mortal." Inuyasha's words were fearful but his voice was taunting. "But mortal or not," He looked Mr. Carver in the eye his opaque visage almost devilish. "I can still kick your ass, old man!"
Knowing he had no other choice, knowing that he couldn't convince Kagome to leave even if he tried, Inuyasha fired his gun aiming for the old man's shoulder. The shot rang in the air, Kagome screamed in horror as the old man fell backwards, his eyes rolling back into his head, blood exploding from the spot where the bullet entered into his shoulder. The mob erupted into a mass of screams and shouts, the clicking of Inuyasha's gun cocking once again a faint spectacle amongst the drowning chaos.
Kagome instinctively lowered her head, covering her eyes with Haniyama's dress sleeve as another shot rang out, Inuyasha firing his second bullet. A man screamed, Kagome looked up and gasped amazed as she witnessed a man fall to the ground, two hands coming to clutch his leg, a gun discarded on the ground at his feet. Beside him a man screamed in rage and rushed them—there was a click—and then another explosion, that man also falling not seconds later. Another superficial wound stopping his assault.
She saw a man raise a shotgun and cried out in warning but the Captain had already taken aim, his gun had already fired. Her eyes widened as the shotgun wielding man screamed in agony, dropping the gun as he clutched his side holding the bleeding flesh of a bullet wound.
More men rushed, three this time, each holding a pitchfork in his hand. The Captain didn't flinch as he pulled the trigger, cocked the gun, pulled the trigger, cocked the gun, pulled the trigger, and threw the gun to his side allowing it to clatter on the ground as his hands went immediately to his sides, each hand reaching for another weapon as three more men fell to the ground.
Kagome's mouth barely had time to fall opened as two more simultaneous shots filled the air, taking out two men who were coming at them from two different directions shotguns in their hands. She watched astounded as the Captain threw his used guns hastily to the ground where the revolver lay before producing two more so quickly that she wasn't even sure where he had obtained them from—a boot, his jacket, it was impossible to tell. Still, she was positive that the guns fired together just as the first set had, taking out two more unlucky individuals with surprisingly shallow wounds; enough to cause horrible pain but not enough to kill.
And then, the Captain brought his hands up to his face, he clutched his fist and drew his body in tight, his elbows tucked at his side like a boxer. Kagome blinked confused as he stood sideways his body facing to the left, his elbows guarding his stomach, while his eyes stayed forward trained on the men in front of him.
"He's out of guns." Kagome watched him completely baffled. "Does he plan to fight them unarmed?"
She looked at the men laying on the ground, the ones who had been shot, there were eleven in all. None of them were dead but all of them had been taken out of the fight permanently. It had all happened in a matter of only ten or fifteen seconds, twenty at the most. She had never known a man to draw a gun that fast, to incapacitate another man that swiftly but without his guns, would he have the same affect?
She glanced over at Jinenji; the large man was as frozen as she his blue eyes staring in amazement as the Captain screamed suddenly, the sound of his battle cry startling the mob enough to give him a chance to attack first, an advantage. The first person he hit with a punch to their jaw. It was so strong that even in his human state the sound of bones cracking could be heard above the screams and shouts of the crowd. Next he landed a kick to the man on his right, hitting the man's floating ribs so hard they audibly snapped, pushing towards the lungs—a possible fatal injury.
Kagome felt nauseous as the man spit up blood before clutching his stomach and falling to the ground. Without another thought, Inuyasha spun around elbowing the man on his left directly in the nose, crushing it instantly. Inuyasha then grabbed the man's bleeding face, his large hand encompassing the man's visage, giving himself enough leverage to shove him backwards, causing him to crash into two other men who were charging—the three landing in a heap of tangled limbs and pain.
"Oh my lord." Kagome whispered, her words sounding almost delayed to her ears as she watched Inuyasha send the palm of his hand into a man's throat causing the man to wheeze and fall unconscious instantaneously. "I've never—never seen a man fight—," She winced as he hit another man in the gut so hard with a kick that the man spit up blood. "How did he learn—where did he learn—who taught him—?" She tried to grasp her thoughts but couldn't as she watched Inuyasha as if in a trance as he lifted his leg higher than she ever imagined was physically possible and kicked a man soundly in the side of his head, causing the man's head to snap at an unnatural angle.
She pulled her eyes away, closing them from the sight, her stomach erupting threatening to expel its contents. She gripped Haniyama's blouse in her fingers and panted as her ears picked up the sound of more bones crunching and more men screaming as they were taken down. "Make it stop." She found herself thinking as the sound of those crunching bones haunted her deeply. "I can't take it—this noise, this pain! It's worse than the guns."
She felt a gentle hand touch her suddenly and gasped, her eyes snapping open as she encountered the blue of Jinenji's eyes. "Miss Kagome." He whispered softly before turning his eyes back on Inuyasha and the people before him.
She could see the pain as he watched and she knew that it bothered Jinenji too. "Make him stop." She pleaded with the other half demon but Jinenji didn't speak up instead he only whispered.
"He must fight." His voice was gentle, kind and almost fatherly and wise. "He is strong so he will fight for us. That is his way and we should be thankful he is capable of it."
Kagome felt a strange sensation start in her heart at Jinenji's words. "His way." She repeated the strange phrase as her eyes were drawn from Jinenji to land on Inuyasha who currently had a man on his back and was flipping him over his head. "But—it's so violent," Kagome reasoned, "Shouldn't we be able to talk with them and achieve the same result?"
Jinenji shook his head sadly. "People with hate in their heart's for half demons seldom want to talk to them." His words cut her deep, went against everything she knew. "He—knows this—he will fight to protect us from this, you from this."
"I don't want people." Kagome whispered her eyes watching with horror as a man tried to drive a knife into Inuyasha's stomach. The Captain easily deflected the hand of the villager, snapping the wrist with a slight flick of his grip, the knife falling from the useless hand. "I don't want people to be hurt for me."
"Neither do I." Jinenji whispered before adding. "I wish for a world where words would speak louder than guns and fist."
Kagome blinked in surprise and looked up at Jinenji, her eyes wide and opened in many ways.
"We may not like this violence, we may not even agree with it but—," Jinenji looked back at his mother sadly. "Until that world is created it is necessary, there is no other way to make them listen."
"There should be." Kagome mumbled as she looked away from Jinenji and back to the ensuing fight, her eyes glazed, not really seeing it. "Fighting isn't always the answer."
"I wish you were right, I wish things were different, I wish these people would just listen." The half demon said, his voice sounding sad. "I don't want them to be hurt."
Kagome blinked rapidly and looked back at the half demon. Jinenji didn't look at her, didn't even spare her a glance as he continued to look at the fight. His face somewhat pained. "You don't want them to be hurt but why?"
The large demon clutched a fist before responding. "We are from the same villager, born from the same midwife, we eat the same food, and drink from the same rivers." His voice was comforting. "We are neighbors and I wish—," His voice trailed off, he didn't say anything more on the subject. Instead he very visibly changed it. "Look," Jinenji pointed at the men who had fallen. "Not one is dead."
Kagome blinked rapidly and forced herself to survey the fighters who lay on the ground—all of them, though in pain, were alive. Inuyasha had single handedly taken out over two dozen men with only eleven bullets and his bare hands and feet—and not one of them had died. She couldn't even comprehend it, couldn't fathom how it was remotely possible. He was human—and no human she had ever met was this unnaturally strong or this unnaturally moral.
She bit her lip, the sounds of bones breaking and audible blood dripping from the wounded making her shake. Click—
Kagome was brought away from the sounds of pain, her mind focusing on that click, that mechanical click—the same click she had heard just moments before when the Captain had fired his guns. Her head spun around, the scene slowing down as her eyes were instantly drawn to Mr. Carver who was sitting up, his left shoulder damaged beyond the point of use but his right perfectly capable.
She tried to open her mouth, she tried to scream, she tried to warn anyone that would listen, she stood, her feet barely touching the ground, she lurched forward but he was too far and the seconds were not that long.
Her mouth fell opened, the trigger was pulled and her eyes instantly found their way to Inuyasha just in time to see him lurch, to see the blood spray, to see the look of pain, the look of shock and surprise. The chaos seemed to pause, no one daring to believe that the invincible man who singlehandedly had taken down the majority of their mob, had blood dripping down his chin from his mouth.
The sound of tortured breathing filled her as she watched his dark eyes look down towards his stomach where a crimson substance was slowly building. As if in disbelief his fingers reached for it, touching the spot with a wince before moving his hand back, bringing it away from the wound, his fingers and palm a deep and deadly red.
"How funny." Mr. Carver said breaking the silent shock as he laughed, a hysterical sound. "I always thought their blood wouldn't be red."
Kagome felt something inside of her snap, something deep—a personal vendetta that she had never really known she had. Her hands clutched into fist, her heart ran cold and for the first time in her life, Kagome Dresmont felt true hate.
"That's enough!" She screamed as the air around her crackled, energy building that surprisingly made only the people of the mob hiss as it exploded forward pushing at everyone that came into its path. It shoved them, threw them away, like a sweeping barrier that locks all that are undesirable out. It bubbled, creating a dome that now housed only Jinenji, only Haniyama (who still laid unconscious), only Kagome, and only Inuyasha.
Said half demon watched transfixed as Kagome's Miko energy did something he had never known a Miko capable of doing. She had shut out the humans—and only the humans who were trying to hurt them. "How—," He found himself thinking as a wave of dizziness overtook him and he fell face forward into the ground, blood seeping from his stomach wound onto the herbs of Jinenji's garden.
Kagome opened her eyes, her anger and rage dissipating as another more urgent emotion filled her. "Inuyasha!" She cried and rushed for him, not even realizing that the barrier she had created held even when she moved, unlike the first time she had cast one.
She fell to her knees in front of his fallen form, tears building in her eyes as her hands tried to reach for him but stopped in mid air, shaking from fear. She gasped, a strangled sound followed and she bit her lip drawing blood, her mind unable to comprehend the fallen man before her.
"What—," She whispered between panicked breathes. "What do I—what—don't d-d-die!" She finally settled on as her hands reached out and her chin quivered. She grabbed the material of his jacket and was about to push him to his back when Jinenji's hands stopped her.
"Don't move him!" He spoke in a hasty whisper stopping her hands his body language still timid but his voice filling with purpose. "No fast movements or he'll bleed faster." He mumbled as he gently turned Inuyasha onto his side before he tore a piece of his own shirt off and pressed it to the still bleeding wound. "We must stop the bleeding." He told her in his soft baritone and reached for her hand, his earlier shyness momentarily forgotten in this moment of overwhelming fear and crisis. He grabbed her hand, pulling it to Inuyasha, replacing his own hand with hers. "Hold his side tight, I'll be right back."
Kagome nodded barely comprehending his words as she felt the sticky substance of Inuyasha's blood push against her hands. She tried hard not to cry, tried hard to fight the feeling in the pit of her stomach that was building. It was a feeling she had honestly never felt in her life. It was beyond hopelessness, it was beyond even pain. It was the undeniable feeling of complete and utter disbelief and despair. "Don't die." She found herself whispering as her eyes watered to the point she couldn't see but that didn't mean she couldn't feel.
She felt as more blood flowed onto her hands, hot and burning to her skin. She took in a choked sob and pushed her hand and the cloth more firmly into the wound, hoping the action would help. Her breathing came in harsh pants as her mind started to race—as her thoughts turned innately dark and foreign.
"He can't die." The thought was chanted in her mind over and over again. "If he dies then—I—we'll never—," The tears started to flow, the dam of her eyelashes unable to hold them anymore. "Inu-y-ya-ss-s-ha." She sobbed openly, her cries the only thing she could hear, everything else being blocked out to such an extent that she wasn't even aware that Jinenji had returned until she felt her bloodied hands being pushed away. "No, stop." She panicked and in her haste reared her hand back prepared to slap whoever dared to make her pull away from him but before her hand could make contact with her assailant, a voice stopped her.
"No time." Jinenji said calmly and gently as his large hand stopped the motion of her own. "We must act quickly Miss Kagome or the bullet will poison him."
Kagome stared at Jinenji with her watery eyes, her mind vaguely registering what he had said. "Poison?"
"Yes," Jinenji nodded as he set some supplies next to Inuyasha, a knife, some herbs, a few clean rags, a bowl and the jug of water that had been by the mantel. "This bullet is made of lead." He informed her as he sniffed the air to reiterate his point. "Lead is poison to the flesh of humans, in his current state it will do much damage." Jinenji finished his short speech as he hastily reached for the Captain's jacket, removing it so quickly that Kagome missed it as she blinked.
Working rapidly, Jinenji tore the Captain's under shirt revealing the bloody wound causing Kagome to gasp. She could just barely see the hole through which the bullet had entered Inuyasha's body because of the amount of blood that was oozing out of the opening.
"Hm," Jinenji mused as he grabbed the jug and poured some water over the wound washing the red hot blood away. Immediately he set the jug aside and grabbed a rag mopping up the now slightly red water that twined around the bullet hole. Nodding to himself he grabbed for the knife causing Kagome to gasp.
"What are you doing?" She cried as she reached for Jinenji's hand, stilling it before it could cut into Inuyasha's flesh.
"Miss Kagome." Jinenji blushed slightly as he stared at her hand on his but quickly shook the color of his face. "We don't have much time." He urged her with his soft voice as he brushed her hand aside. "We must act quickly or he will not make it to sunrise." Jinenji's blue eyes pleaded with her. "He must make it at least until sunrise."
"Sunrise?" Kagome repeated as the information finally struck her. "He'll turn back then?"
"I believe so." Jinenji nodded his head firmly as he turned back to Inuyasha studying the older male. "This wound," He told her honestly as he prepared the knife. "Would kill a human but—not a demon."
Kagome gulped and turned away as the knife entered Inuyasha's flesh, the sound of his skin being sliced remarkably audible even to her ears. She cringed, she felt sick and then Inuyasha cried out. Her head whipped around and she gasped as the brave man she had known whimpered in pain still unconscious. "You're hurting him." She managed to whisper.
"He will live." Jinenji responded without stopping his work, his large eyes focused on the task of looking for the bullet. "It hasn't hit anything vital." He realized as he gazed through the wound, the glistening of the bloodied piece of metal catching his eye from its place lodged just below one of Inuyasha's floating ribs. "The body has done its job, the ribs have protected what is vital." Jinenji maneuvered his knife, pushing it behind the bullet before pulling it forward and plopping it out of the flesh much to his relief. The wound bubbled with blood then, the substance starting to ooze forebodingly. "Still, a normal human could die from this easily." Jinenji realized as he watched the blood continue to move, not clotting as it would have instantly had the Captain been in his demon form. "I must keep him alive till sunrise." Jinenji vowed silently. "At least until then."
"He's still bleeding." Kagome whispered to Jinenji as she watched the man set the bullet down before grabbing the jug and pouring more water over the wound.
Jinenji didn't respond to her, he really had nothing to say about the bleeding. The truth was, humans and demons clotted differently. Human's could take hours to clot from a wound of this extent, a demon would only take a matter of minutes but now—the Captain was a human, his demon blood somewhere deep inside of him, hidden until mornings light. And without that blood, there was nothing Jinenji could really do to stop the bleeding any quicker than it naturally would, but he could lessen the pain. Still moving swiftly Jinenji reached for the herbs he had brought, taking the leaves into a large hand.
"What are those?"
"This," He indicated the leaf in his hand. "Is the leaf of a Tea Tree, it will help with infection."
The large hands of Jinenji easily crushed the herb as he spoke, making the leaves into crinkled bits without the use of either pestle or mortar. Without further ado, Jinenji pressed the herb mixture into Inuyasha's side causing the unconscious half demon to cry out once again and gasp for breath. The larger demon ignored him easily as he rubbed the mixture in pressing it deeper and deeper as the human Inuyasha gritted his teeth in pain but stayed unconscious.
Jinenji frowned as he brought his hand away. He had figured Inuyasha would have awoken during the removal of the bullet and yet he still laid unconscious and panting—that wasn't good. Sighing he grabbed his next herb or more specifically root and held it up to Kagome for her to see, knowing she would want to know. "This is gingerroot, for pain and inflammation." He told her as he grabbed a small bowl and crushed the root in his hand, causing some of the juice in it to drip into the small chalice. He grabbed the jug and placed some water with the root before stirring it together with his finger. "Hold up his head Miss Kagome."
Kagome blinked at the gentle command and gulped before nodding and crawling the short distance towards Inuyasha. Her eyes wide as she reached his side and was finally able to make out the features of his face clearly. He was white, white as a sheet, his brow was filled with sweat despite the mild temperature. Her hands shook as she reached for him and tilted his head upwards allowing Jinenji to open the Captain's mouth and force the concoction down his throat.
Inuyasha coughed instantly and reflexively swallowed before, much to Jinenji and Kagome's surprise, he opened his dark eyes. "What the fuck." Were the first words out of his mouth as he stared at Jinenji blankly still coughing slightly. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"You were shot." The large demon told him as he blinked his large eyes. "I gave you medicine to numb you."
"Why the hell should I belie—," Inuyasha's words stopped dead as his side went slightly numb, the pain still there but nowhere near as intense. "I'll be damned." He mumbled to himself as his breathing seemed to grow a little easier. "What'd you give me?"
"A type of gingerroot." Jinenji informed him with a shrug.
"Ginger?" Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow and Jinenji nodded his head before glancing at Kagome conveying a silent message. "Okay, probably not just any old ginger." Inuyasha thought to himself but didn't press the issue, if he couldn't feel the pain of the bullet then he was better off anyway, regardless of what the numbing agent was.
"You're still in danger." Jinenji told him honestly as the large demon set back crossing his legs with a nod. "But I can make you live till morning."
Inuyasha nodded in understanding, a look of calm coming over his face before he fully registered the fact that his head was resting on something soft. Glancing upwards his eyes widened as he took in the sight of Kagome's worried eyes. "Kago—me?" The name trailed off as he felt something wet hit his face, like a rain drop.
"You're alive."
He heard her whisper and his heart nearly broke from the sound of her pain. "Yeah," He winced as he tried to reach his hand for her but pain erupting in his side. "Fuck." He cursed slightly and let his hand drop back down. "This numbing stuff doesn't work worth a shit." He smiled up at her contradicting his words of pain, trying to calm her worries.
She tried to smile back but the image was forced and filled with unshed tears. "Be careful." She gently told him.
"The herbs will mask the pain," Jinenji whispered from the side lines, drawing both Inuyasha and Kagome away from each other and towards his controlled and doctoral voice. "But they will not protect you if you make the wound any worse."
Inuyasha nodded his understanding, his eyes traveling behind Jinenji as something caught his eye, a glimmer. "Barrier?" He acknowledged with surprise. "Kagome you cast a barrier?" He looked up at her just in time to see her nod.
"I don't know how but I did." She looked around them at the strange dome.
Jinenji narrowed his eyes as he finally was able to relax enough to notice the strange barrier around them. He blinked his large eyes before squinting so he could see outside of the strange pinkish purple shimmer. He could make out the villagers, they were screaming and holding up their torches, guns, and farming equipment angrily and yet within these strange walls he heard none of their insults.
"Miss Kagome did this?" He spoke, his voice hesitating. "But how? You're human, right?"
Kagome nodded her head. "Yeah I'm human."
"Do you have shamans in the tribes around here?" Inuyasha asked suddenly already prepared with an easy explanation that Jinenji would understand.
Jinenji nodded his head yes quickly prepared for an explanation.
"Kagome's a shaman," Inuyasha explained effortlessly as he took a few deep breaths. His side was beginning to hurt a little less, much to his relief. "She's a very powerful one, just not trained fully."
"Oh!" Jinenji acknowledged just as easily, understanding enlightening him. "I had not realized Kagome was a native." He eyed her timidly, a blush gracing his cheeks. "That does explain your hair and skin color though."
Kagome reached up and touched her hair at the comment but forced herself not to speak. With her tan skin and her naturally dark hair color, it would be no wonder for people to misidentify her as a native.
"How long will your barrier hold, Miss Kagome?" Jinenji inquired as he turned to tend to his mother, now that everything was somewhat calm.
Kagome pursed her lips and tried to think of a response for Jinenji but had none. In fact—she glanced at the barrier confused—she wasn't even sure how she was currently supporting it. The last barrier she had set she had been forced to hold in place but this one was almost disconnected from herself. "I'm not sure," She finally admitted her voice shaky. "I don't know how I'm even holding it in place, let alone how long it will stay that way." She turned to look at Inuyasha, hoping he had some answers. "This isn't like last time.
"This is a different type of barrier." Inuyasha answered, taking a deep breath before forcing himself to sit up off her lap. The pain jerked in his side but wasn't unbearable any longer, Jinenji's 'gingerroot' had really done the trick. With a deep breath he settled by her side, crossing his feet as he held a hand to his wound for mental support.
"Inuyasha?" Her voice was worried as she spoke causing him to smile slightly to himself, happy she was worried about him.
"I'm fine." He told her reassuringly before continuing his explanation. "When you cast this barrier," He motioned towards the dome with his free hand. "You disconnected it from yourself."
Kagome furrowed her eyebrows at his words and pursed her lips. "I can do that?"
"Apparently." He nodded dryly as he once again motioned at the barrier sarcastically.
If Kagome noticed the sarcasm in his voice she didn't mention it. "So I'm not supporting it?" She looked at him for confirmation, he grunted with a nod. "Then how long will it last."
Inuyasha shrugged slightly, the action causing him to wince. "It will only last as long as the amount of energy you put in it can last."
Kagome blinked carefully, trying to comprehend his words but came up short of understanding. "What's that mean?"
"Think of it as an oil lamp." Inuyasha started to explain, hoping his analogy made sense to her and Jinenji who was listening in as he cleaned up and doctored his mother's face. "The lamp only last as long as there's oil in it, right?" He waited for a look of understanding to cross her face, when it did he continued. "So how long the oil lamp burns depends on the amount of oil you put into the lamp in the first place." He motioned at the barrier. "Your Mi—shaman energy is the oil and the barrier is the lamp. So depending on how much energy you put in, how much 'oil,' is how long the barrier will last."
Jinenji let his mother's head rest in his lap, her quick bandaging done for now. He had been listening to the conversation and felt he had a pretty good idea of Miss Kagome's powers but still, the Captain's explanation didn't offer them a time limit and time was their most important need right now. "So," He mumbled. "How long will it be before the 'oil' runs out?"
Inuyasha frowned, in his current state—as a human—he had no method of telling how much spiritual energy was around him. However, he was somewhat aware of Kagome's powers. She was strong, very strong but untrained and unaware of how to use her powers without emotions fueling them. It was very likely she had only put enough energy into the barrier to stop the villager's immediate attack and if that was the case—the barrier would not last very long.
"I'd say no more than an hour at the most." He finally concluded as he looked towards the wall that prevented the villagers from attacking, he could make the villagers out through the barrier, at the moment they were watching it with curiosity, some of them raising guns to fire at it. He smirked, no bullet could penetrate spiritual energy of this caliber.
The smirk left his face as his thoughts continued. "Maybe they'll lose interest," He reasoned to himself. "If the barrier last an hour at least then they'll probably leave, tend to their wounded." He took a deep breath. "If they do I'd have enough time to heal and change back." He frowned darkly and made a face. "Fat chance." He knew it was highly unlikely that the villagers would leave them alone, not when they knew they had wounded a half demon and now had a good chance of killing not only Jinenji but the wounded one as well.
"Sun rise is not for a while." Jinenji whispered as he cradled his mother a few feet away bringing Inuyasha back into the conversation. "The barrier won't last till then, will it?"
"Probably not." Inuyasha told them both honestly.
"What will we do then?" Kagome questioned, her expression pained.
"Can you cast another barrier?" Jinenji suggested hopefully.
Kagome frowned deeply and looked at her lap away from both men before whispering, "I don't know how." Her hands shook as she fisted them into her pants. "I—it's not that simple—well you see—the," She closed her eyes tightly, a feeling of uselessness overcoming her. "The only reason I could even put up this barrier was because," She waved at the shield as it shimmered slightly as a villager shot at it from the outside. "I was mad."
"Oh," Jinenji nodded. "So you're not trained well enough to do it on your own?"
"No." Kagome admitted softly. "If only I could control it, I could protect everyone but I—how am I supposed to even learn? There's not exactly a school for this!" For a second she thought of her predecessor, thought of Kikyo. "Who taught you, Kikyo?" She questioned the name echoing in her head. "Or were you just—smarter than me." Her eyes fluttered trying to hold back useless tears. "You could probably make a barrier without thought, couldn't you?" Something inside Kagome, a tiny voice of self doubt, told her that 'yes' of course Kikyo had been able to, Kikyo was different than her in that way.
"Well," The Captain's voice broke her away from her thoughts. "Don't worry about it. There's nothing we can do about that now Kagome." Inuyasha told her firmly drawing her away from her self deprecating thoughts unwittingly. "Right now we need to focus on our current problem." He told them as he held his stomach, some blood still slipping from between his fingers as he shook from a pain he wasn't used to. "I hate being human." He grumbled to himself as he took some deep controlling breaths. "I can't fight like this but—we might not have a choice." He glanced at both Kagome and Jinenji, the only one of them capable of fighting was Jinenji but he was far too gentle for something like bloodshed. Inuyasha looked away from them at the very thought his eyes landing on one of his guns that wasn't too far away and within the confines of the barrier, "Do you have any bullet's Jinenji?"
"I'm sorry," The big demon mumbled as his large eyes grew downcast. "Mama and I don't even have a gun."
"Wait." Kagome stopped the conversation from progressing. "You're not thinking of fighting are you?"
"Well—,"
"You can't fight like this!" Kagome protested before he could even mention that as an idea.
"Yes," Jinenji agreed instantly his large eyes widening with awareness. "If you fight before the sun rises you will die." His voice was commanding but also a bit scared. "We'll think of something else, there ha-s-s to be something else."
Inuyasha was quiet then, his expression contemplative as he thought—what would they do if he couldn't fight? Jinenji and Kagome were both right, he reasoned as the ache in his side pained him. Inuyasha knew he was in no condition to fight, but if he didn't fight then who would? Inuyasha sighed deeply, his eyes landing on Jinenji, his only option. "But Jinenji isn't a fighter." The rational part of his mind spoke up but Inuyasha ignored it. He knew that Jinenji was not a fighter, Jinenji would never be a fighter but if they were going to get out of this alive, then Jinenji needed to stand up for them.
And Inuyasha knew he was perfectly capable of doing so. The half demon was strong, he had seen it first hand when he ripped the branch off of a tree with his bare hands. Yes, his body was capable but what about his soul?
Inuyasha let the idea run its course, pushing at his emotions. Jinenji's soul was not capable of a fight. It was not strong enough to fight, not designed to fight. It was not in his nature despite his demon blood. But that didn't matter. The natural ability and love of fighting was not necessary in this case. No—it was not necessary at all. Even if someone didn't love to fight, even if someone didn't like it or even hated it, they could still be convinced to do it. Yes, they could be convinced for the good of something worth fighting for or more importantly, worth living for.
"My son and I have this saying." Inuyasha suddenly spoke up, his voice soft and reflective. "We fight to live." He glanced at Jinenji his eyes a gentle black. "But to do that, you have to have something to live for, if there's no reason to live then you have no reason to fight for your life." Without even thinking about it he looked over at Kagome who was watching the conversation with interest.
For a moment he thought about telling Jinenji that it was Kagome he lived for but the inkling only lasted a moment before disappearing completely. Now was not the time. Forcing himself away from Kagome's beautiful grey eyes he looked instead at Jinenji's wide blue eyes that were studying him, waiting for the rest of his words.
Inuyasha gave the younger man a stern and confident look, as was his trademark. "Do you have something to live for Jinenji?" He added to himself silently. "Something worth fighting for?"
The tall demon paused, his mind racing over all the prejudice, over all the hate, over every scar on every part of his body. He had been tormented, burned and beaten, his whole life had been a black room in which he was trapped with no one to help him, to give him any good light. Since he was a boy he had been scorned, he had been mocked and hated. He was two parts of an ever flipping coin, a coin that would never land and tell him what race he belonged to. Just like Inuyasha he could never be one or the other—he was both a demon and a human.
Jinenji looked down at the thought, the irony not escaping him. He had the blood of two races, a connection to two races and yet that connect was also his downfall. The demons hated the human in him and the humans hated the demon in him. This would always be true. He would always be hated, despised for something or really a part of him he could not control. So why live? Why live through this, through this everlasting torment, through this long life where he was never, would never be accepted.
He closed his eyes at the thought, a sad smile on his face. He had nothing to live for—he had nothing at all, just pain and torture and people who would always hate him for something he couldn't even control. He was hated by everyone, despised; they wanted him to die—everyone in the whole world wished he didn't exist. He was about to speak, about to tell Inuyasha that he had nothing to live for at all but before he could open his mouth he noticed that the Captain was no longer looking at him. The Captain was looking away at Miss Kagome, his dark eyes staring at her as if she was a goddess.
Jinenji frowned his own blue eyes enamored by the look of love in the stern man's face. He wondered if he had told Kagome, if she knew he was in love with her. He wondered if Inuyasha had even admitted it to himself. "Probably not." Jinenji thought, his lips actually forming a smile. "But he has admitted something else, hasn't he?" He blinked his large eyes. "He lives for her, doesn't he?" He thought to himself, "He lives for her acceptance, for her gentle smile, for her naïve innocence. He fights to protect it so he might live to see it safe." Jinenji's eyes grew sad and he turned to look at his lap only to see his mother's gentle sleeping face.
She moaned in pain softly and he felt his heart wrench. "Mama." He whispered to himself his blue eyes wide with an astonishing realization. "She acceptances me, smiles for me." He thought as he watched his mother's brow furrow. "If I died who would protect that smile?" He reached one clawed hand for his mother's brow, pushing her grey bangs away from her sweat covered skin. "Who would make her laugh, who would take away her pain if I wasn't here?"
"Jinenji." The old woman suddenly whispered as her eyes fluttered opened. "Jinenji, you're alright?" Her voice whispered with a rasp.
"Yes Mama." He told her softly and gulped.
"Thank goodness." The old woman smiled but the gentle look faded slowly. "I feel so tired."
"Sleep Mama." Jinenji coaxed softly. "All will be fine when you awake."
"Ye-s-s, fin-e." The old woman mumbled as her head tilted to the side and she drifted off once more.
For several moments, Jinenji stared at his mother, his large blue eyes studying her with such scrutiny that it almost looked as if he was trying to see through her. "Your life," He thought as he stared at her. "You gave up your life for me, to love me and raise me. You gave it all for me." He ran his large knuckles over the back of her face. "I have to protect you, protect your happiness and smiles. That is the least I can do in return for you loving me, for you accepting me as I am, half demon and all."
Warmth built in Jinenji then, a warmth caused by a connection he had never made. He had someone, someone he had to live for, someone more important than anything, someone who loved him just the way he was regardless of blood. After all, as his mother had often told him, for a half demon to be born there must be love.
He turned away from her, his eyes landing on the Captain. "I have something—," He began slowly his voice soft a gentle baritone. "To live for."
Inuyasha grinned in response encouraging Jinenji to continue.
"For her." He told Inuyasha, his voice strong and prepared. "I live for her, for her happiness, for her acceptance and love."
Inuyasha smirked. "That's a good thing to live for."
"Yes," Jinenji agreed as he gently moved his mother aside and stood to his full height, his head nearly touching the top of the barrier. "She is worth living for, worth fighting for!"
The barrier flickered at Jinenji's words as if sensing that now was the time for him to stand up, for him to finally fight. Inuyasha watched as the shimmer began to slowly crumble at the top of the barrier, it wouldn't be long now, maybe five minutes at the most before the barrier fell. With a deep breath he stood, wincing as the pain in his side returned for a second before dissipating.
"Good magic plant." He mumbled to himself as he held the wound, pressing against the dressing to help manage the pain.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome too stood to her feet moving to stand next to him, her hands touching his arm as if it was the most nature thing in the world. "You're not going to fight, right?"
Inuyasha gritted his teeth. "I can't promise anything, Kagome." He told her honestly. "But—I trust Jinenji," He turned looking at her with determined dark eyes; eyes that almost reminded her of Miroku, deep and charming. "He won't fail us and as long as that's true, I won't fight."
Kagome didn't speak but did nod her head in understanding. "We should move Haniyama."
Inuyasha glanced at the old woman and nodded his head, turning quickly towards the old woman who was laying on the ground a few feet away. "Grab her feet." He commanded Kagome who acted quickly.
She grabbed the old woman's ankles as the injured Captain put his arms underneath her armpits, pulling her up. He gritted his teeth hard as pain flooded him instantly but otherwise ignored it until they had succeeded in moving Haniyama closer to the house, not wanting to put her inside should the villagers manage to catch it on fire.
"Stay with her." Inuyasha ordered her as he moved towards Jinenji who was still standing tall and firm, his eyes focused on the slowly crumbling barrier.
"But—" Kagome started to speak but was stopped when the Captain's gentle voice hit her ears.
"Kagome," He whispered the pitch of his voice different from normal, sounding almost—loving instead of stern or commanding. "I would never—," He paused his back still to her his shoulder straight and taunt, full of tension. "I would never forgive myself if you were hurt in this Kagome." His words hung in the air as he turned to look at her, his eyes full of so much emotion that Kagome found herself completely frozen, mesmerized by the sheer amount of longing, love, and worry that he let her see.
He had never shown her this side of himself, never shown her how much he—apparently—worried about her, cared about her. But right now, as she stood taking in his words, she could see it all as plain as day. It was there in those dark enchanting eyes, there is their very human nature. "Could it be that—the human in him is more—," She searched for the right word. "Emotional?"
"So please," His voice came to her again, a look of pain that had nothing to do with his side evident on his face as he spoke to her. "Stay here, where you're safe."
She gulped, a tingling sensation starting in the pit of her stomach as she took in his pleading yet handsome features, his words causing an ache in her heart. How could she say 'no' to a face like that, to words like that? There was no way, none at all. She nodded and he smiled and her heart nearly stopped in her chest as that same warmth that he had always made flow through her came at her with ten times its normal force. "I'll stay here but—," She found herself saying. "You have to promise me you'll be careful."
He nodded his head, his face appearing to relax from her words. "Don't worry 'bout me, I've been through worse than this," He raised one eyebrow. "Can't think of anything worse than this right now," He chuckled to himself. "But I'll get back to you on that if I think of something."
She laughed slightly truly amused by his words before her expression changed to one of contemplation. "You will, right?"
"Will what?"
"Get back to me?" She gave him a teary smile. "You'll tell me all about it, later, okay?"
Inuyasha gave her an odd look for a second before realization dawned on him. There was a duel meaning to her words, a meaning he understood, a comfort he knew she needed. "Tomorrow," He offered plainly. "I'll tell you all about it tomorrow."
Kagome nodded, the Captain's words calming her panicked heart slightly. "He'll tell me tomorrow." She reassured herself. "Because he has to live through this night."
End of Chapter
Please Review
A/N: Well hope you enjoyed! This chapter was a little hard to write just from the perspective of trying to portray Jinenji but I hope I have set the stage adequately for the battle that is about to transpire. It promises to be action packed. I mean come on, Inuyasha's been shot, Kagome doesn't know how to use her powers, Jinenji is willing to fight but can he actually pull it off and on top of all of that—what's going on with Kaede and Naraku…OMG so much is going on right now! What the hell is going to happen, the suspense is killing me—well I actually know what's going to happen but I was channeling you guy's emotions.
P.S. I've been made aware of a new FanFiction Awards Group run by The Black Dahlia. If you are intertesed in nominating or voting for great fanfiction take a look at the group's site http: / born for each other . blogspot . com and yes I have been nominated for something that is why I was informed of its conception lol. Anyway, if'd you like to vote for me personally or another one of the fanfics that have been nominated go to that URL!
Bonus Point:
In this chapter I used the line "Something worth Fighting for?" What Disney movie has a song that uses this line (or a variation) and what is worth fighting for in the song/movie? Hint: It's got a bit of Asian Flare to it.
Last Chapter's Bonus Point:
And the answer is Episode 13, The Mystery of the New Moon and the Black Haired Inuyasha. I keep referencing this one, I know but it's just that good. Congrats to the winners:
, InuEared Miko of Darkness, InuKag4Eva, glon morski, HeavenlyEclipse, SilverStarWing, Laken, AriaLuvsInu, booklover2theextreme, Purple Dragon Ranger, AnimeRomanceFreak1990, hedgewitch13, StrikerTheWolf, Warm-Amber92, InuKag77, Gun Toten Girly, TheRealInuyasha,
Notes:
Tea Tree: The Tea Tree Plant is often used as an essential oil and not a leaf. It is native to Australia but it is possible that Jinenji would be able to acquire it during this time period. Although the possibility is slim. Tea Tree is known as a natural disinfectant as well as an overall miracle cure for anything from rashes to headaches. Interesting fact, when ingested Tea Tree is poisonous to humans as for demons I have no idea.
Gingerroot: Gingerroot is known for its healing qualities in both Native American and Asian Cultures. It is taken orally and is known to help with inflammation of the joints as well as minor pain relief when administered properly. As you might have guessed, in this fanfiction Jinenji is using no ordinary Gingerroot but instead a more powerful demon influenced form.
Mortar and Pestle: The equipment used to ground herbs into powders. It is a small bowl generally made of stone and a utensil that has a rounded end also made out of stone.
Next Chapter:
Jinenji's Stand (I promise this time.)
See you then!
UNEDITTED
POSTED
10/19/2011