Chapter 13

Hakuuyo's Scent

Inuyasha reached the clearing first, the Tetsuseiga already transformed and ready. "NARAKU!" He screamed, slashing through the first demonic arm he reached, freeing Rin from the hold the demon had on her. She scrambled out of the way but was caught by yet another of Naraku's many tentacles and screamed bloody murder, regretting ever trusting Surreal in the first place.

Sesshoumaru reached the clearing and was instantly infuriated by the sight, ripping through Naraku's tentacle arms with a vengeance, pulling Rin free and bringing her to safety.

"Lord Sesshoumaru...you came for me..."

He set her down a little ways from the fight and jumped away to take his share of a chunk out of Naraku's body before Inuyasha could have too much fun.

"SHOW YOURSELF, NARAKU!" Inuyasha screamed, glaring at the arms shooting out from the trees. "YOU COWARD! KAZE NO KIZU!"

The light that erupted from the trees startled Kagome greatly. "Oh no, Inuyasha!"

"Naraku!" Surreal sprinted off towards the trees, surprising the group greatly.

"Surreal!" Daemon shouted, glaring at her. "Surreal, get back here!"

"Impudent wench,"

They all turned towards her date who smiled sardonically at them. "I'm afraid our meeting will have to be cut short. I have other matters to attend to."

"Wait...!" But he vanished long before Jaenelle could reach him. "How..."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted again, racing for the trees, only to be yanked by Lucivar. "What-"

"If you tear that dress Karla's going to be stepping all over my toes tomorrow. Besides, I can fly remember?" He lifted her and launched into the sky, heading towards the light in the forest.

"Daemon," Jaenelle looked at him, genuinely concerned. "We have to follow them,"

By the time Kagome and Lucivar landed it was already chaos. The brothers were fighting through Naraku's nasty tentacles like mad, growing angrier and angrier every minute because Naraku wasn't showing himself.

"Kagome!" Rin ran to her, throwing her arms around the older woman. "I'm so sorry!"

"Stay back, Rin," Kagome said gently, motioning the girl backwards. "We have to do something, Lucivar! If only I had my bow and arrows..."

Surreal made it into the clearing, glaring at the sight before her. Naraku was in trouble. He couldn't keep this attack up for much longer, not against both brothers and the jeweled strength that was on its way. Damn you, Hakuuyo! You tricked him into believing that he could win...You just want him out of your way!

Inuyasha lunged into the fray again, but his anger was intensifying, driving him wild. He wanted so much to just give into the beast raging in him, to tear through Naraku until the vile demon was nothing but torn flesh and severed bones, but it was dangerous and he might not be able to regain control of himself if he did so. His mixed emotions from earlier would fuel his demon form and he wasn't sure if even Kagome would be safe when he let go.

"Stop right now or I swear I'll slit the bitches' throat!" Surreal shouted, having gotten a hold of Kagome at the last minute. Lucivar glared, calling in his war blade, taking a step towards her. "I mean it, Yasi. One more step and I'll kill her,"

"Don't move," Kagome hissed through her teeth, feeling the stiletto blade piercing the flesh at her neck.

But Inuyasha wasn't up for any games. He turned from Naraku and jumped away from him, landing gracefully ten feet from where Surreal now held his Kagome captive. The blood on Kagome's neck was the last push he could take. His eyes went dark red, jagged blue marks formed on his cheeks and he bared his fangs in a dangerous growl.

"Now you've done it," Kagome moaned, feeling the tip of the stiletto digging into her neck a little further. "In-Inuyasha..."

"Let her go," He growled, taking a step forward, his fangs flashing brilliantly against the moonlight. Kagome wriggled but Surreal was stronger than she was and it didn't get her anywhere.

"Let me go, Surreal," Kagome murmured. "He's out of control, I can stop him. Just let me go,"

"Shut up," Surreal growled at Kagome, watching Inuyasha warily.

"You didn't let her go," Inuyasha snarled. "You should have let her go." He lunged, intent on ripping Surreal into pieces but stopped in midair. Kagome screamed at the heart wrenching sound he made as one of Naraku's tentacles tore through his back and exploded from his chest.

"INUYASHA!"

Surreal smiled and shoved Kagome away as Naraku slung Inuyasha into the nearest tree. "Inuyasha!" Kagome ran for him only to be caught up in Naraku's tentacles. A blast of Ebon-Gray jeweled power freed her. Lucivar shouted a war cry so demonic that for a moment Kagome could have sworn that he was a Youkai lord. He sliced through several arms before Naraku focused his attention on Sesshoumaru who wasn't fairing too well at all. Even Sesshoumaru had his limits.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome reached him and dropped to her knees beside him, terrified at the sight before her. "Inuyasha...please..."

He grabbed her arm, squeezing, his eyes opening to look at her. "Inuyasha!"

"I...should have...seen that coming..." He coughed, blood seeping from his mouth. He winced in pain, his breathing shallow, becoming more and more difficult. "It hurts to breathe, Kagome,"

"He must had pierced your lungs...Oh, Inuyasha! Hang on!" She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him into her lap, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. "You were right all along, Inuyasha. Something bad did happen...we shouldn't have come tonight,"

"Kagome!" Jaenelle reached her, staring at the sight. "Oh no..."

"Can you heal him?"

Jaenelle placed her hand over the spot where Naraku's tentacle had pierced through his chest and closed her eyes, concentrating. His Fire Rat robes had protected him from more serious damage, but he was still fatally injured. "Yes, but we have to get him back to the Keep immediately." Jaenelle looked to Daemon and froze. "Shit..."

Kagome looked over her shoulder and her heart sank. He looks so bored...so cruel...Does Naraku have control over him, too?

No, Naraku didn't have control over him. He'd gone horribly cold and was riding the Killing Edge. There was about to be a slaughter.

"Prince!" Jaenelle called, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Daemon ignored her and stepped forward, grabbing Surreal by the arm. She slashed at him with her blade but met a black shield that knocked it from her hands.

"Damnit, Sadi!"

A blast of black power shattered twenty of Naraku's arms, freeing Sesshoumaru. From seemingly out of nowhere, he pulled out his sword, and with a voice full of emotion, unusual for the Youkai, shouted, "DRAGON STRIKE!"

When the dust settled, Naraku's tentacled arms were gone and silence fell about the clearing...for a moment. Naraku emerged from the trees then, grinning and laughing hysterically.

"It appears that I've failed to kill you again, Inuyasha," He was smiling, but it was a pleased smile. "But I have succeeded in making you suffer, have I not?"

"Shut up...you son of a bitch..."

Naraku started laughing again, looking towards Sesshoumaru. "You have your wench to thank for this, Lord Sesshoumaru. I thank you, Rin. You were a wonderful pawn in this game. Surreal," He turned towards Sadi and smirked. "Come, darling, we have business to attend to,"

Somehow Surreal was able to yank her arm free of Sadi and gather her Stiletto, running over to Naraku's side. Kagome saw the sparkle of the spider web at the back of her neck then and growled just as they vanished, "He's controlling her,"

"Only partly," Lucivar snarled, wiping blood from his mouth. "Surreal's still in control for the most part, but he's manipulated her greatly. She actually believes that she's in love with him and that he's in love with her,"

"Naraku isn't capable of feeling," Kagome growled, her voice wavering as she looked down at Inuyasha. He was pale, having the worst time breathing, and the blood from his wound was starting to pool beneath him.

"We have to get to the Keep, and soon," Jaenelle urged, motioning Lucivar over. He lifted Inuyasha from the ground and could feel how week the hanyou was and how weak he was growing. "I'll meet you there," Lucivar launched into the air and headed straight for the landing web that would give him access to the psychic winds and then he was riding the Ebon-Gray wind to the Keep at Ebon Askavi. Jaenelle watched Kagome silently break and offered the woman what little comfort she could give. "Let's go, we don't have much time,"

"Wait," Daemon growled, looking towards Sesshoumaru.

"I'm sorry, Sesshoumaru," She whispered, her eyes downcast. "I was so mad at you that...when Surreal told me she could make you come back I didn't think and I...This is my fault...I'm sorry...I'll go now..." She turned and was about to flee when Sesshoumaru's fingers curled about her wrist and yanked her back against him. She gasped as his arms came around her, resting just below her breasts. "Stay with me, Rin," Tears lit her eyes and she leaned back against him, almost unbelieving.

"It's not your fault, Rin," Kagome said as she approached them. "You were tricked by Surreal into doing this. This is Naraku's fault, not yours,"

"We have to hurry," Jaenelle urged from behind them. "We don't have much time,"

End of chapter! Wow...this one was shorter than I remembered. But, oh well. Enjoy it? Thanks for the reviews, as always! G'night!