Defense

Gituku had remained camouflaged and led the moth clan by calling out to them and marking his path but now that was becoming unnecessary. The buzz of insects, yelling and demonic auras were telling signs that the battle was close. Leaving the moths behind, Gituku rushed forward to see his master's victory.

Danzaemon couldn't believe how many of his insects they had killed already. Using a special call he'd developed, he summoned even more insects and repeated the same incantation.

"Are you that weak that you need to call upon others to fight your battles for you?" Sesshomaru had come to a stand still. He was tired – tired of this senseless fighting while Danzaemon flew overhead out of danger.

The new insects were more vicious if possible. Some made it into the temple, over a dozen. Inuyasha sliced a couple more beetles with his sword and turned to stop the other bugs from reaching Rin. Eyes set on the insects in front of him, Inuyasha didn't see the two that had risen above his head and hid in the shadow of the ceiling.

They swooped down and each bit him, one in the neck and the other on his arm. "Ahh, damn it!" Inuyasha shook them off and using his claws decapitated them. He stared at his hand as the flesh bubbled and disappeared from the poison. Ignoring the pain from his hand and the bites, Inuyasha ran forward to save Rin.

"Get back Rin!" Shippo's little knees were shaking but it was his job to protect Rin. He wished the others were there to protect them all.

"Move you stupid fox! I'll pr-protect Rin!" Jaken wanted only to be with Sesshomaru – well hiding behind Sesshomaru but since he couldn't he had to make a good show of it. Rin would see him bravely defending her and sing his praises.

Bangs and thumps made them all jump as the bugs rammed their bodies at the door to get in. Ah-Un maneuvered his body in front of Rin as she huddled on the floor in a corner. She too wished to be with Lord Sesshomaru and wondered if she'd ever see him again.

Crack! They had broken though! A thousand eyes stared at them before pulling back and rammed the door again making the hole larger.

"Ugh! It's bugs!" Cried Shippo. "Get ready!"

"I hate bugs. I hate large bugs even worse." Screamed Jaken taking a stand next to Shippo.

Inuyasha was slowing down; the poison was taking affect as it coursed inside his body. He turned a corner and saw he was too late. They were already being attacked. Inuyasha saw fire – red and orange spit out of the room and insects fell screaming to the floor.

"Fox Fire!" Blue fire this time exploded from the room and more attackers fell. As Inuyasha got closer, white lighting also took down some insects. He smiled grimly – they were doing well on their own, still…Jumping up he swung the Tetsusaiga and destroyed the remaining insects and fell down to his knees gasping in pain.

"Inuyasha what's…?" Shippo gasped in horror to see some of Inuyasha skin fall to the floor. "The bugs…did that?" He whispered.

"Go! Find a new hiding place…don't let…them touch…you." He had to get back to the fight. Inuyasha used the Tetsusaiga to stand and leaning the wall, dragged his body back along the hall.

Shippo wanted to help but what could he do? He shivered as he looked down at the skin that had fallen from Inuyasha's hand. "Come on! We can't stay here!" He took command and shepherded them out of the room – away from the oozing corpses.

The battle went on but Sesshomaru stepped up his game. He stood still and spraying his own poison eliminated Danzaemon's army. This was the scene that greeted Gituku and the Moth clan.

They watched as Sesshomaru and his friends tackled the vicious bugs and seemed to be winning. Looking up they saw Danzaemon up in the sky watching from afar. It was not at reassuring sight.

"Inu - yasha!" Miroku caught sight of him and stepped back in horror before running to help him to stand. His left arm was mostly raw, the flesh having been eaten away and there was a spot on his neck and down under the happy face T-shirt that was purple and bubbling.

"Inuyasha!

"Oh my God! Inuyasha!" Kagome reached out a hand to touch the moving skin but quickly drew back her hand.

"Don't worry…about me. I'll be…fine." He pulled away from Miroku and limped heavily towards Sesshomaru. "What the…hell are…you…waiting for? Kill him…already! Don't…keep her…waiting!"

Sesshomaru turned to say something sarcastic when he got a good look at Inuyasha and blinked. He was barely able to stand; his will and his sword were the only things holding him up. Sesshomaru felt – he felt anger. Danzaemon's damned insects had done that to his brother! Yes, having Inuyasha gone would suit him fine but he would be the one to do it! If he didn't kill Danzaemon soon, Rin too could end up like Inuyasha and she'd been through enough already.

Sesshomaru looked up at Danzaemon as he drew Tokijin. "Time to end this."

Even from where he flew, Danzaemon felt the ice and the heat of those words. Not letting Sesshomaru's threat daunt him he went on the attack – on the already defeated brother.

"Nooo!" Kagome called as various insects swarmed about Inuyasha biting him. Arrow after arrow left her bow as she tried to save him.

Sango too helped out and using her Hirakotsu got the ones Kagome's arrows didn't.

Inuyasha screamed. He couldn't stop them. They bit him repeatedly and he couldn't lift his arms to stop them. He heard Kagome calling and crying to him but he couldn't answer – the pain was just too much.

The Tetsusaiga fell out of his grasp becoming an old, worn sword. Blood and poison covered him as he fell hard to the ground.

Sesshomaru found himself moving towards Inuyasha. No he couldn't…wouldn't die so easily! Th-thump. Th-thump. Sesshomaru's hair stood up on the nape of his neck and a thin smile appeared. "Leave him be!"

Kagome was kneeling at his side crying. She couldn't even touch him or the poison would kill her too. But suddenly…she felt a new demonic aura and it was coming from Inuyasha!

Desperately she looked to Sesshomaru then to her friends. "He's changing!"

"Kagome! Give him the sword! Give Inuyasha the Tetsusaiga!" Miroku called out protecting her back.

Kagome picked up the sword and inched closer. She could hear his growling and moaning as the change happened.

"Give him that sword and he will die." Sesshomaru stood over them. Inuyasha's face was hidden by his hair but Sesshomaru knew what was happening. His eyes were turning red, fangs and claws were growing and the marks would be appearing on his face.

"This change will heal him. He will not die. Give him that sword now before the change is complete and all you'll have is his dead body."

Sesshomaru jumped to the side and with Tokijin blasted some bugs. Kagome watched his easy movements then looked to Inuyasha. It was true. Becoming a full demon would heal him, it would save his life but could Inuyasha control it? Would he attack them all?

"You'll have to help him Sesshomaru. If he turns on us, you must help!" Kagome yelled as she stood and backed away from Inuyasha.

"Ka - gome?" Inuyasha asked roughly. He felt…he felt powerful and…angry. Looking about he saw Sesshomaru. Another growl erupted from his throat but as he watched, Sesshomaru cut down some insects and his anger focused entirely on the buzzing swarm. "Goddamn bugs!"

"Watch out!" Kagome ran to join Sango and the others. "He seems in control for now but be careful."

"Yes, in his transformed state, Inuyasha can easily take care of those bugs." Miroku leaned on his staff breathing hard. "I don't know how much longer I can last."

"Mmm." Kagome nodded and watched her man. They all watched as his claws tore the bugs apart.

Sesshomaru watched with a bit of pride as full demon Inuyasha took care of business. Five minutes maybe, was all it took until Inuyasha came to a rest on the ground.

Inuyasha looked at the blood on his hands. It burned his skin so he shook his hands until the blood fell hissing to the ground. That quickly his hands began to heal. Turning red eyes skyward, he yelled, "Get down here! I'm not done yet! I need to kill at least one more pitiful moth!"

"That's enough Inuyasha. Danzaemon is mine. Go, take your sword." Sesshomaru walked up beside and then past him.

"No, I don't think so." His voice was gravely rough. "You've had plenty of time to kill him but you didn't. It's my turn." Inuyasha flexed his fist and his pink tongue ran over his fangs as the bloodlust came over him.

Sesshomaru moved quickly intending to knock Inuyasha out but he was too late. Inuyasha had anticipated that. His brother laughed as he evaded the fist. Sesshomaru growled this time. He needed Inuyasha out of the way so that he could kill Danzaemon. He went after him again only to have Inuyasha fake him out. Inuyasha started one way, stopped and came at Sesshomaru in another direction. He'd hit him!

Sesshomaru skidded backwards, reeling under the force of Inuyasha's strength. He shook it off and went after him.

Danzaemon couldn't believe it. Gituku couldn't believe it. The Moth clan couldn't believe it. The brothers were fighting each other and ignoring Danzaemon completely!

Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Kagome all sighed. This wasn't a new sight for them. They seemed to get along best when they were fighting.

"Kagome maybe you should tell him to sit so we can get this over with." Miroku said. He and Sango were holding each other up as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha leaped and ran around each other and exchanged blows.