(A/N: Hey folks. Thanks for reading. Just thought I'd let you know that I'm brainstorming ideas for another Inuyasha story; which will have no connection to this one what so ever. I hope you'll take a look at it when it comes along; though that may not be for awhile since I'm still thinking it through. In the meantime, please enjoy the next chapter
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 4: An Old Nemesis
Inuyasha's eyes widened at the unforgettable scent that reached his nose. He was on his feet in an instant, immediately on his guard.
"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" Kagome asked in concern
Inuyasha ignored her as he continued to sniff the air. Turning to Kouga he said, "Hey, wolf-boy, you smell that?"
Kouga ignored the smart remark and sniffed the air. He recognized that scent anywhere. "Holy hell, it can't be!"
"Inuyasha, Kouga, what troubles yeh two so?" Kaede asked.
Inuyasha's claws dug into his palms. "Nobody panic, but I'm picking up Naraku's scent."
Asking the others not to panic by this news was next to impossible. Even their children, who only knew of Naraku from stories, reacted.
"Impossible!" Miroku exclaimed. He looked at his right hand, which had not needed to be covered in years. "The Wind Tunnel is not there. It can't be Naraku."
Inuyasha sniffed the air again. "Wait… no, you're right. It's not Naraku. The scent is similar, but it's not him."
The others relaxed.
"Is it Kagura or Kanna?" Sango asked. They were Naraku's only living offspring. All the others had been destroyed.
Inuyasha shook his head. "It's not them. But something is still familiar."
"Did you miss an incarnation?" Souten asked.
"I don't think so?" Shippo replied. "Kohaku, were there any others?"
The demon slayer shook his head. "No, none."
"It's here!" Kouga cried.
An unfamiliar person rushed through the village and came to a stop in front of the others. They did not recognize him, for he wore the face of the bandit he had met earlier, but he certainly recognized them.
"Kikyou." He demanded. "Where is Kikyou?"
Kikyou blinked. She didn't have a clue who this demon was, so why did he want her? "I am Kikyou, what do you want with me?"
Onigumo turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "Not you, half-breed. The Kikyou I seek is a human, a priestess." His eyes settled on Kagome. "And she looks like her."
Inuyasha pulled out Tetsusaiga and moved in front of his mate. "You keep away from Kagome!" he growled.
Onigumo snorted. "I don't want her. I want Kikyou! Now where is she?"
"And what do yeh want with my sister?" Kaede demanded. "Yeh seem familiar, but I cannot remember where I have seen yeh before."
Onigumo turned to her. "Ah yes… Kaede, isn't it? It's been a long time. For all of you. What has it been, 22, 23, 24 years. Time seems to run together when you go through what I have gone through." He smirked. "Perhaps you don't recognize me because I wear a different face. The last time we met, I could not remember who I was, so I simply went by the name of the monk whose face I wore. That name was Muso."
The others gasped. Inuyasha held Tetsusaiga out. "You!"
Onigumo snickered. "Yes, me. But I remember everything now. I may have a new face, but I am still Onigumo."
"Onigumo!" Ico gasped. "Wasn't he the bandit that was the cause for Naraku's birth?"
Kaede nodded. "Aye, that was he alright."
Onigumo laughed. "Ah yes, Naraku, that bastard. He kept me trapped within his body. And now he's in Hell where he belongs. I guess I should be thanking you all for destroying him and setting me free, but I'm not really the thankful type. However, I would appreciate it if you tell me where Kikyou is."
"Keh, sorry to burst your bubble buddy, but Kikyou's dead." Inuyasha growled. It didn't hurt to say it anymore.
"I'm aware of that!" Onigumo snapped impatiently. "Naraku killed her. But I also know that she was brought back to life. Now where is she?"
"We told you, she's dead!" Shippo shouted. "She died again facing Naraku. She gave her life to stop him."
Onigumo's eyes flashed with anger. "Then bring her back!" he demanded. "Just like last time. Do it. Now!"
"We can't!" Kaede said loudly. "My sister isn't just dead, she no longer exists. She was reincarnated into Kagome after she was burned with the Shikon Jewel."
Onigumo's eyes turned to Kagome. "Reincarnated, huh? Very well, I'll take her then."
"What, no way!" Kagome cried.
"You're not laying a finger on here!" Inuyasha declared. "Wind Scar!"
Onigumo smirked, not even trying to avoid the blast. His body was blown to pieces.
"Way to go, Father!" Kikyou cried.
The celebrating was cut short as the pieces of Onigumo's body came back together and regenerated the pieces that had been obliterated. Onigumo smirked at them.
"Do you remember nothing of our last encounter?"
And he struck, his arm becoming a spiky tentacle. Inuyasha slashed with Tetsusaiga, slicing the tentacle. It immediately reattached before splitting into 3 more, piercing Inuyasha's arms and leg.
"Father!" Kikyou cried, drawing the Holy Sword.
"Stay back!" Inuyasha cried.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango cried, throwing the large boomerang.
Onigumo released Inuyasha to avoid the attack.
"Fox Fire!" Shippo cried, delivering a much more powerful attack then he had been able to use as a child.
Souten joined him, using lightning instead of fire. Onigumo allowed himself to be burned and shocked, immediately regenerating afterwards. Kouga leapt in the air, aiming an attack at the demon. Onigumo's arms turned into tentacles again and wrapped around the wolf-demon, the spikes digging painfully into his flesh. Onigumo laughed as he threw Kouga to the ground in a bloody mess, watching in amusement as the wolf-demon's family ran toward him.
"Now for you, my priestess." He declared, turning to Kagome.
"Not while we're here." Kohaku cried, as he and the other able fighters moved to defend their friend.
"Very well." Onigumo's tentacles whipped outward, knocking the others aside. One tentacle wrapped carefully around Kagome, making sure not to let his spikes harm her. "Now you're mine."
"Yeh will not take her!" Kaede shouted.
Onigumo turned to her. The old priestess had a bow and arrow pointing at him. He just snorted with laughter. "You can't stop me, old woman."
"Yeh should have died with Naraku!" Kaede cried, releasing the arrow.
Onigumo easily knocked the arrow away. "Your powers have become weak in your old age. You're no use to anyone."
He lashed out with a tentacle. It cut across Kaede's stomach, leaving a deep wound.
"Kaede!" Kagome cried. "How could you, you monster? Let me go!"
"Silence!" Onigumo snapped. To keep her quiet, he hit her over the head, knocking her out. "We best be leaving."
He leapt in the air, carrying the unconscious priestess with him.
"Get back here, you bastard!" Inuyasha cried, jumping in the air to meet him.
Onigumo turned to him, frustrated. "I'm getting tired of you, half-breed."
One of his tentacles whipped the half-demon, sending him flying. Inuyasha crashed into a tree. A moment later, the same tentacle pierced his chest, coming out the other end of the tree.
For a brief moment, Inuyasha had a feeling of déjà vu from the time Kikyou had pinned him to a tree with her arrow. He gasped as Onigumo pulled his tentacle from his chest.
"Ka…go…me…"
The last thing he saw before he blacked out was Onigumo taking his mate away.
(A/N: Kagome has been kidnapped, again. I'm not trying to make her out to be a damsel in distress, remember that's she's a much stronger priestess than when she was a teenager, but this is Onigumo where talking about. Besides, the others aren't just going to take this lying down. Just wait until next chapter. I'll see you then.)