Chapter 3
The Bringer of Darkness
It was infuriating.
After decades of waiting.
After all the obstacles.
After countless schemes and plots.
He still did not have the Jewel of Four Souls.
He still did not have his enemies dead after all the numerous demons he had thrown at them.
And the only one that he had succeeded in killing had been brought back to life.
And most irritatingly, he couldn't touch her because of it.
Well, Naraku had a plan.
This time he would destroy every last one of them.
"Holy shit!" flinched Bankotsu, damn that girl had a set of lungs!
"What the hell is that!?" gasped Kagome staring at the black horse that had emerged from the forest.
Not just any horse.
A demon horse.
It was huge, two or three times bigger than any horse Kagome had ever seen. It was entirely black save for it's golden eyes and the matching full gold moon on it's brow. It's tail and mane didn't hang like other horses either, it floated in the air resembling a midnight black cloud, untouched by gravity. It was, Kagome thought, like it had just stepped out from a traditional Japanese painting. But the only clue that it was a demon save for it's size and marks, was it's aura. It was giant, powerful, intoxicating and yet….gentle. Not malevolent like so many other demons Kagome had met. This one was practically pure almost. Another thing, Kagome noticed was that it radiated darkness, no it was the shadows or that all shadows came from him. It blended in perfectly with the dark backdrop of the forest and Kagome thought that even if the sun shone on the horse, she doubted that it would be able to pierce the inky darkness that surrounded it.
"Damn that thing surprised me." swore Bankotsu heaving Banryuu into the ground once more. He sat back down against the tree and leaned against it closing his eyes.
"You're-you're not afraid?" Kagome asked surprised.
Bankotsu opened one eye, "Do you see anything to be afraid of?"
Kagome rolled her eyes and pointed sarcastically at the still horse.
"Geez. You stupid? You don't even know what it is do you?"
"Care to enlighten me oh great one?" asked Kagome sarcastically putting her hands on her hips.
Bankotsu closed his eyes again sighing, "Fine, again with the temper. That my dear Ka-go-me is a demon. But one that is unique from all other demons. It doesn't eat human flesh at all, or have a diet like other horses. No, what it feeds off of is its element. This one is obviously feeds off the night, which is to say, the power of the moon."
"Are there other ones like this?" asked Kagome entranced. Sensing her curiosity, the horse inched closer, whinnying.
"Yup, only one other kind. The ones that feed off light." nodded Bankotsu, "They're both extremely powerful and since there were never many to begin with, they're practically extinct now after they've killed each other so much."
"Oh." breathed Kagome. The horse had come closer now, until Kagome could have stretched out her hand and would have been petting it but it's golden eye gaze kept her rooted to the spot.
"Aren't you gonna name it?" asked Bankotsu raising an eyebrow.
"Why would I do something like that?" asked Kagome, she stared at him in shock.
The mercenary shrugged, "It's chosen you as its rider."
"Really? It wants…to be with me?" gasped Kagome.
Bankotsu rolled his eyes, "You really are stupid." He muttered, "Yeah, so pick a name for the thing. It's chosen you as for its master after all."
The horse bared its teeth at the young mercenary, offended by the 'thing' comment.
"Hey, you don't have to pay attention to 'that', he's not worth it." glared Kagome at Bankotsu who smirked back cockily at her. Gathering up her nerve she turned and she stepped slowly, deliberately and held up a hand inches from the horse's nose. It snorted impatiently and shoved its nose under her hand and nickered in satisfaction.
Kagome giggled softly then an idea struck her, "Hey, do you mind if I call you Mizu?"
The giant horse bucked its head and Kagome giggled again, "Good then you won't mind if I tell you that I refuse to be you're master! We're partners and we work as a team!" The horse stamped it's feet and bucked it's head.
Bankotsu stood up sighing, "Ok, now that that's over can we go now?"
"You don't have to be so impatient you know!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Bankotsu turned his back to the girl but he still looked at her from over his shoulder from the corner of his eye. Unbelievable, that girl has enough power to tame a spirit horse? Only the powerful and courageous may do it and here she is a priestess no less. She's just a mere girl, weak to begin with, unable to control fully her powers.
He looked ahead still musing, This girl Kagome...I've never met anyone like her. She's definitely…intriguing.
"What the hell is that!" cried Inuyasha drawing Tetsuiga when he saw Mizu following Bankotsu and Kagome back to the campsite.
Kagome scowled at him, "Inuyasha put that thing away. Mizu's not dangerous."
"Kagome, you tamed an element horse?" asked Sango looking shocked.
"Yeah, and his name is Mizu."
Inuyasha sheathed the Tetsuiga looking grumpy, "What'd Sango say?"
Sango quickly explained to everybody about element horses.
Kilala bounded over to the shadow demon and they sniffed each other cautiously. Finally Mizu snorted and backed up towards Kagome.
"Hey, what's wrong? Kilala's on our side." soothed Kagome patting his neck.
Kilala mewled looking confused and walked back to Sango glancing back at the demon horse curiously.
"It's probably because Kilala resembles the light spirits that shadow demons are so wary of." commented Miroku. "With the flames around her tail and paws, she does look a lot like them."
"Yeah but Kilala's done nothing but good for us, there's no reason that Mizu should be afraid." argued Kagome.
"That's really weird, why the fuck would that horse pick you as its rider." sniffed Jakotsu, sitting cross legged against Ginkotsu.
"What's that supposed to mean!" snapped Kagome.
Jakotsu scowled at her, "What that's supposed to mean wench, is that horse is incredibly powerful. Why would something like that pick you -a weak mortal woman with barely any powers to speak of- as it's rider?"
Inuyasha balled his fists, "Why you! No one speaks like that to Kagome!"
Jakotsu blinked up at him, "Oh Inuyasha.." he smiled dreamily, "I love it when you're angry."
Inuyasha blinked turning green.
"Ignore him, he's always like that." sighed Suikotsu. Ginkotsu clanged in agreement.
"That guy's really creepy." whispered Shippou from besides an amused Sango. She nodded in silent agreement.
Miroku sighed, "Lady Kagome is not weak. She has vast amounts of purifying power but has no control of them yet. It's a wonder that she can use them at all without any formal teaching unlike Lady Kikyo who was taught them at the age of a young girl. Besides, Kagome is the only one that has dealt Naraku any real damage."
Renkotsu looked up interested, "What do you mean monk?"
Miroku smiled reminiscently at the memory, "Well, we were in battle, and Naraku surrounded us with his miasma. Kagome spotted Naraku and she fired an arrow at him, stopping his miasma. Then she fired another one, destroying his body." Miroku replied, looking up at the sky.
The others looked stunned while Shippou and the Inu gang looked smug. Kagome laughed embarrassedly putting a hand behind her head nervously.
"Not bad. Too bad the arrow thing is the only thing that's going for her, she's still a weak human female." commented Bankotsu a little too casually from besides Jakotsu.
"I'm sorry Bankotsu, what was that?" said Kagome with a sweet smile.
Bankotsu just looked up at her and smirked, it was so easy to manipulate her.
Kagome closed her eyes bringing her fist up, ooh what she wouldn't give to shove his face in the dirt like she did with Inuyasha.
She was about to settle for rendering him deaf with her shrieking but stopped when she saw that Mizu, had in fact bit Bankotsu.
On the head.
With his extremely large, blunt teeth.
Very hard it seemed by the way Bankotsu leapt up and swore clutching his head and threatening the demon with his Banryuu.
The horse snorted and turned away from the silly, braided man and doubled his anger by flicking his cloud-like tail at his nose.
Kagome and the others started to laugh.
Bankotsu picked up his Banryuu and thrust it at the demons nose.
The demon snorted and kicked him in between the legs then on the head after he collapsed, then spat on Banryuu for good measure.
Bankotsu slept very deeply that night while staying in the fetal position with a hill sticking out of his head.
The men stayed away from the horse for the rest of the night.
Naraku glowered at the offered mirror before him. So they were all getting along were they? Well, let them enjoy their happiness, they wouldn't be enjoying anything else after what he planned for the miko.
He watched as the black horse snorted and knelt on the ground as Kagome sat against him dozing.
Hmmm. An element horse, it would be difficult to get past it and to the miko, they were notoriously protective of their riders and only another would be a match for it.
"Kagura." He said simply.
"Yes?" asked the wind witch appearing before him.
"Bring Hakudoushi to me. I have a task for him."
She bowed and melted into the shadows once more.
Kagome sighed and stretched. She felt rejuvenated and ready to take on the day after a good night's sleep. She smiled when she saw the demon beside her. She had been right, not even the sun shining brightly above them could pierce through the shadows that surrounded him.
"Good morning K-Kagome." yawned Shippou beside her. He and Sango had just awoken as well. The menfolk had already awoken.
"Good you're finally up. Let's get movin'." Said Inuyasha jumping down from a tree where he had been resting on.
Kagome nodded and picked up her yellow bag. She was surprised when Mizu nudged her gently with his nose and indicated that she should go sit on his back. "Oh ok." She said, shying away slightly from his gargantuan form. She took a deep breath and slowly climbed on, even when he was lying on the ground he was huge! The demon stood up with all four hooves planted firmly on the ground and Kagome squeaked from the sudden movement.
She turned and realized that everyone was ready to go as well, Miroku, Sango and Shippou were sitting on Kilala's back while Inuyasha stood impatiently. The Shichinintai were on Ginkotsu's back.
"Ready everyone?" asked Kagome. Everyone nodded back. That was when Mizu jumped.
In the air.
Kagome shrieked hanging on for dear life while the horse whinnied soothingly.
"I can't believe you fly!" the stunned girl cried. She shrieked again as they picked up speed and buried her face against his mane.
Kilala drew pace with them, "How're you doing?" called Sango.
"I'm doing good." Kagome smiled weakly. "Riding on Mizu is definitely different from riding on Kilala." Sango laughed softly at her reply.
"Dammit." growled Inuyasha jumping between the two.
Kagome looked down at him on surprise, "What's wrong Inuyasha?"
He scowled, "I'll tell ya what's wrong, we're going too damn slow because of that freakin' tank down there!"
"Inuyasha, it's to be expected. With the new people in the group of course we're going to be slower." soothed Kagome, "Besides, with the extra help it'll definitely be worth it don't ya think?"
Inuyasha scowled again but didn't answer.
"Hey, where are we going anyways?" called Bankotsu.
Kilala and Mizu lowered until they were close to the ground both of them on either side of the metal contraption while Inuyasha stayed on Kagome's other side not jumping any more but running speedily on the ground.
"As far away from Mt. Hakurei as possible." answered Miroku. "You told us this morning that that was where Naraku was staying and that he only ordered you to kill us and that after you can keep the jewel shards. I'm sure that whatever Naraku has planned, he will be finishing up his business in Mt. Hakurei soon. I'd rather us try to find a way to defeat him then mindlessly going after him trying to kill him. Brawn will get us nowhere with him."
"Sounds like a good idea, but what will happen when Naraku starts to pursue us?" asked Sango.
Inuyasha smirked and cracked his knuckles, "So what? He'll be tasting my Tetsuiga is what."
Bankotsu scoffed, "Right Dog, that is after I chop his head off with my Banryuu."
"Shup up!" shot back Inuyasha, "If ya hadn't noticed Bankotsu, my Tetsuiga trumps you're old halberd any day!"
Bankotsu growled and opened his mouth to retort.
Kagome sighed, "Great, now we have two Inuyashas." she commented drily.
Mizu snorted in disgust and Kagome patted him in sympathy.
"You called?"
"Yes, destroy Inuyasha and the rest of his pathetic friends. I want those jewel shards of those traitorous Band of Seven back."
"What about the night horse?"
"Leave it to Entei. He will be more than a match for it."
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Hey guys! What's up? Hope everyone had a nice Valentines Day. I know, I know, I should have updated sooner. But lately I've been caught up with Naruto so I haven't really been in an Inuyasha mood. I actually wrote this during winter break and was unfinished but I was reading it over and was like "Nah! Let's put it up, everyone probably wants to read more of it anyways even if the end is cruddy.' Well, let me know if you like it so far!
-Bamboo Princess
