A/N: yea, yea, yea. Same story, different day. I don't own Inuyasha, but you knew that already...
Just a bit of a warning, this has a somewhat graphic battle in it. Its not terrible, but if you have a weak stomach...well good luck...
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Apollo had ushered his fiery chariot well into the evening by the time the weary travelers reached the summit of Sanguine Mountain. The burnt mound of earth was only enhanced by the glow of the setting sun, stirring Inuyasha's stomach into nervous knots at the mere sight of it. He had done a decent job of hiding his fear all day, although he was nearly certain that Kagome had sensed his anxiety. She always seemed to have a sixth sense in relation to the inu-hanyo's feelings. That thought alone sent another jolt of panic rippling through his spine, earning a look full of concern from the miko that owned his heart.
Sango made quick work of assessing the battlefield once the team had arrived. She found the ground to be relatively level despite its relation to the base of a mountain. She also noted that it was also chock full of rocks that made it very easy to trip at high speeds as well as little pockets of soft earth that sank under the right kind of pressure. A scowl plastered itself to her face as she finished surveying the area. It appeared to her that this was a much more difficult layout than anyone had anticipated even though it would be level land.
"How's it look, Sango?"
"Not good, Miroku," she began, subconsciously smoothing the fabric over her body, "The ground is even enough, but there's soft spots everywhere. Anyone of us could step in it just the right way and twist our ankles pretty bad. I'm just hoping Inuyasha has-"
"What about me?"
Miroku and Sango turned slowly to see the young, battle ready man surveying the area as well. His muscles were taut with prebattle jitters and there was the faintest trace of drooping in his ears. It was as if he had already given up his victory before he drew the tetsusaiga from its sheath.
"I'm just hoping you can handle the terrain," continued Sango without missing a beat. She wasn't as open as Kagome was, but she was just as receptive to other people's feelings. She could tell Inuyasha was afraid of the coming battle, but what was more, he was afraid that he would lose the battle and his life.
"Keh. As if the ground could slow me -- OOF!"
Miroku walked away, shaking his head, to keep himself from the laughter threatening to burn itself out of his chest. He did, however, allow a smile to cross his features as the rippling laughter of Shippo echoed through the openness around everyone. The little kitsune had collapsed to his knees from his hysterics at the sight of Inuyasha buried, face first, in the ground in front of him. Trying to appear confident, Inuyasha had begun leaping around on the ground and tripped over a rock the same color as the burnt red mountain in front of him. Of course, this only plunged him forward. He tucked, knowing he'd be able to roll and recover from his embarrassing fall, but his face had found a pocket of soft dirt and chose to rest comfortably instead of return to see the light of the sunset.
"Well done, half blood. I always knew I could win this battle without even trying."
Miroku felt his blood run cold, effectively sending shivers down his spine. He hadn't seen Kagura land mere feet away from the whole entourage only moments ago. He hadn't heard the howling of the wind as she coaxed her feather over the tops of the trees. He hadn't heard her feet hit the soft earth and he was angry. The last thing he wanted to do was appear weak in front of the enemy.
A growl escaped Inuyasha's throat as he pulled himself out of the earth and shook his head free from the clumps that had tried to mangle his silver hair. He stood, visibly shaking as the adrenaline pushed its way through his system. He could feel the spring-like tension in his muscles and he willed it to hold as he raised his tetsusaiga, pointing it at the wind sorceress' heart. Outwardly, he knew he looked threatening, but his mind was completely disheveled. He could hear the doubts screaming at him. He could hear the blood of his father pounding beneath his feet and running within his own veins. Inuyasha was certain that his blood was about to join his father's on the ground.
"So you came, did ya, Kagura?"
"Of course I did half blood," she opened her fan, grinning with the growl that the slur had earned her. She knew if she kept the insults up, she couldn't possibly lose today.
"Well then, what are we waiting for. Let's get this show on the ROAD!"
He leaped into the air with little effort as he brought the tetsusaiga even with his shoulder, preparing for a very heavy blow. Kagura watched his actions, slightly caught off guard. She hadn't anticipated that he would work so quickly. Then again, she reasoned with herself, the light was definitely beginning to fail and soon the sun would set. She looked up, completely ignoring Inuyasha's attack as she took note of the faint lavender color that was beginning to stain the sky.
There were sparks and the shrill noise of metal against magic as Kagome took shelter behind a rather distinct tree a ways away from the battle with Shippo, Miroku and Sango not far behind. Kirara had long since took to the bushes, staying close should her comrade need her during what promised to be a very large scale and a very bloody battle. Cringing against the noise, Kagome watched as Inuyasha's muscles strained with the pressure of holding the heavy blade against the magically enforced fan. It was the only bit of armor that the sorceress had and she certainly knew how to use it to all of its potential.
Inuyasha's muscles ached as he jumped backwards. His chest was already heaving with the extent of the control he was using to stay on top of the dirt. His ears twitched reflexively as his ears instinctively stayed alert for other sources of danger. He was no stranger to some of Kagura's tricks, but he was almost positive that she wouldn't be using the full extent of her powers to her advantage. Something seemed different about her in this place. Something seemed different about almost everything in this place. It was covered in the stench of death.
The hanyo's grip on the tetsusaiga tightened as he prepared the energy he needed to complete his next attack. He knew his wind scar was completely useless against a demon that was the wind itself, which left him with two options. He could pounce with blow after blow of physical attacks until he either landed a hit or he could goad her into attacking him for his own purposes. He knew he could use her own energy against her with the back lash wave.
"What's this Kagura? Don't feel like taking a swipe at me today?"
He clenched his teeth and adjusted his grip, never once moving the point of the blade from its target and all Kagome could do was gulp her strangled cry as tears came to her eyes. She had never seen him so completely terrified before and she knew it was because he was battling in the last place his father had before his death. If this were any other battle, Inuyasha would have charged arrogantly. He would've landed blow after blow, pummeling the she-demon from all directions as often as possible, but he hesitated in a way Kagome had never seen before.
Kagura's crimson eyes gleamed with malice and a hint of play as she wound Inuyasha's nerves tighter and tighter. She was far from stupid and she knew exactly that the inu hanyo planned on using his back lash wave against her. She could feel the insults that he was throwing at her and she loved the way the seconds killed pieces of his fighting spirit as she hesitated to attack him. It was a clever game of cat and mouse, but the wind sorceress was almost positive that she would come out on top.
"What's wrong, Inuyasha? Are you too afraid to make a move?"
A low, threatening growl resounded in Inuyasha's throat as he once again adjusted his grip on the tetsusaiga. He knew she was trying to get him to attack. He also knew that she understood the limitations of the windscar against her. He allowed his eyes to wander upwards a bit and a new fear struck deep in his heart. The sky had been stained with a blend of orange, red and purples. The sun was almost completely behind the horizon for the night and Inuyasha was almost completely powerless.
Inuyasha was brought out of realization with a shriek from behind him that was being drowned out by the roar of wind and a sudden searing pain in his arms. His attention snapped back to Kagura, who was grinning with her fanning arm stretched out across her body. Inuyasha screamed as the blades of wind that had left her fan dug deeper into his arms and across his chest.
How could I have been so stupid?! How could I have let my guard down like that?!
The pain was becoming unbarable and Inuyasha's hearing, dulled from the roar of the wind and his fading youkai abilities, had barely picked up on the battle cry that Kagura had unleashed as she let loose a back hand of wind from her blood stained fan. He heard a shriek float from behind the tree as the barrel of wind pulled closer and closer. His lungs hitched together tightly as the wind hit him square in the arm, wrenching it painfully. There was a nasty pop as the shoulder was torn from it socket and with a flash of silver, tetsusaiga was flung into the air like pin being tossed to juggle.
Kagome covered her eyes as the wind tore at the hanyo's shoulder. She felt strong arms around her as the tornado of wind continued its path and Miroku pulled her away from the tree to safety. She heard Inuyasha yell as the pain washed over him and he finally realized that his shoulder had been removed from its socket. She opened her eyes to see the young flat on his back. His eyes were screwed shut and she knew that he was close to transforming to his human state. She knew that half of this pain was caused by his body becoming steadily more and more human. She bit her lip and said a silent prayer to protect him.
Kagura's lips curled with a smile as a tree was ripped from its roots off in the distance before the tornado petered out. She hadn't thought she would make this kind of headway with the inu hanyo before her. She had half expected to be torn, limb from limb, and narrowly escape with the Shikon no Tama just as she had once before. She couldn't help but feel her problems of facing Inuyasha would soon be over and she poised her fan for the finishing blow when a glint of something caught her eye in the sky. He grin only grew as she lowered her arm and closed her fan, leaving Inuyasha panting on the ground in pain and confusion.
"Well, well, Inuyasha. It appears that I'm done with you this time."
"Wh-what...AH!...What...do you mean?"
Inuyasha stared at the sky as it began to darken to a lovely shade of violet. He knew the sun was mere instants away from setting and he was prepared for the worst night of pain that he had felt in some time. He blinked his eyes, trying to clear it of the image of something silver dauntingly plummeting towards him.
What the heck...IS THAT TETSUSAIGA?!
By the time Inuyasha realized that it was his sword plummeting to the ground, it had already plunged through his abdomen. Any color left in the hanyo's face immediately drained and the last bit of resolve he had been holding onto to keep from crying out was immediately lost. He let out a pitiful wail as Kagura laughed and plucked a feather from her hair.
"I told you. I'm done with you."
With that, Kagura jumped on her transportation and floated away with the breeze.
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A/N: Yea I know; I'm ending this on a cliff hanger...But what do you guys think?
Let me know what you wanna see happen or even if you think this whole story is bogus! I won't write until at least SOME ONE lets me know what they think...