Chapter 18

Attack of the Demon Vines

The thought that Lord Inutaisho, father of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, was the father of Kagome and Serena, disturbed the girls all morning. How could it be possible that a dog demon from the fuedal era would one day be their father? It wasn't until the group stopped and asked what was wrong when the Higurashi sisters were pulled out of their thoughts.

The group continued and walked down a path in an isolated forest. The further they went in, the more they saw trees covered with creepy vines. And it almost looked like trees were dying. "It's like the vines are draining the trees of their life force." Miroku said as he looked at a tree that had fallen over but was still covered in vines.

"I don't like the looks of this place. It's way to quiet here." Serena said as she gazed at the vines. I have a bad feeling about this place.

"I don't like this place either. It's very scary." Said Rin. She was riding Ah Un with Jaken holding the rains.

As they walked further into the forest, the group saw more trees that were dead and had fallen over. Then, suddenly, Serena tripped over something that was on the ground. She fell down and hit her chin on ground when she landed.

"What tripped me?" She looked over at her feet and screamed.

It was a corpse with healthy vines all over it. But the problem was that even though it was still decomposing, it still looked juicy. Like the vines were still eating it or something.

All of a sudden, Rin was screaming and pointed at something coming at them. Hundreds of vines rushed towards them. Sesshomaru quickly helped Serena and they all went running in the opposite direction. They had to force Inuyasha to run because every time he used his Iron Reaper Soul Stealer attack, the vines would just grow back.

Just when they thought they were safe, the vines attacked them from underneath. The green ropes wrapped around their legs, holding them down for the other vines that were chasing after them.

The first set of vines formed into groups and wrapped around each person individually. As she was being tied up with vines, Serena struggled to grab the Shiunga. She managed to pull it out of its sheath but a few vines pulled her arm down so fast that the long blade was somehow angled across her chest. The edge of the blade was dangerously close to her neck. One bad move and the vines could move the blade toward her neck and kill her.

The vines had them all tightly tied up in a matter of minutes, the vines holding the demons of the group so tight that a mere human would consider it to be crushing them. The vines then lifted the group off the ground and pulled them into the forest at breakneck speed. Trees sped by them as they were pulled into a large clearing in the center of the forest. In the center of the clearing was an enormous tree. The trunk of the tree was so big it could cover a large house.

The vines stopped before the tree, holding the group in mid-air. Serena looked around at the other to see if they were alright.

Sesshomaru was struggling to free his only arm which looked like it was pinned down to his side by the vines. Inuyasha had his right hand on his Tetsusaiga but wasn't able to pull it out. Rin was pinned down to Ah Un's back and Jaken was tied up to the dragons' left neck. Kagome had a frighten Shippo in her arms. But Sango had it worse of all by being tied up back-to-back with the perverted Miroku. Both her hands were holding a tied up Kilala and she had no way of stopping the monk from touching her butt.

"At last!" Said a female voice from nowhere. "I have some fresh meat to drain the life from."

"Wh….what was…th that?" cried a very frightened fox demon.

A large thick vine traveled up from the ground. It pointed straight up and then the tip of it split like a banana peel. The peels then swirled around and formed into a female demon that looked like the mythological Medusa. But instead of snakes, she had long vines for her hair.

"I am Hetsuimaru, demon of this forest." Said the demon as she snaked her way between her prisoners. "I thrive on the life force of live things.

"So that's what happened to the trees here! You drained them of their energy." Yelled Miroku.

Hetsuimaru turned around to face him as he continued. "You're taking the life force and energy of these trees and any travelers that wonder into this forest."

"That's right my dear monk." She said as she went to stand before them. "And now your life force will be drained as well and feed to me."

The vines holding them gripped them even tighter. Their life force became visible and started swirling slowly down the vines and to Hetsuimaru herself.

Serena started feeling weaker and lightheaded and Inuyasha felt the same. Sesshomaru, Shippo and Jaken just felt weaker. The humans were feeling dizzy and getting a headache.

"S…Serena." Kagome tried to speak with the energy she had left. "There's a…..jewel shard……on….her…..forehead."

Serena's vision was getting blurry but she saw it too. A sparkling pink glow was coming from Hetsuimaru's forehead.

But how can I get it? I feel so weak already. She asked herself as she felt even weaker.

Suddenly, Inutaisho's voice came to her mind. Use the Shiunga's attack, the Dragon Cyclone.

But I can't even move! She thought as she tried to struggle out of the vines grip again.

Just focus your energy on the sword and let it destroy the vines holding you and your friends. Said Inutaisho before his voice went away.

Serena did as she was told and focused all her remaining strength on the blade. The blade started glowing and letting off tiny little dark purple lightning bolts. The vines holding her started to sound like they were screaming from the small shocks they were getting from the blade.

"What do you mean she's burning hot?" yelled Hetsuimaru at the vines holding Serena. "I want her life force!"

The vines didn't listen to their master and the pain got even worse. The blade started glowing and letting off more bolts of energy. Serena then got angry and yelled, "LET ME GO!!!" as she said that a powerful electric shock came from her sword and instantly destroyed the vines her holding her and her friends. They dropped to the ground but Serena was the only one who landed on her feet. The others fell to the ground with a flop. Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Rin were close to being unconscious. Shippo, Kilala, and Jaken, being small demons, already were unconscious. Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and Ah Un just felt dizzy and tired.

Sesshomaru shook his head from the dizziness and looked at Serena. Where did she find this energy? That demon took almost all my energy and I can barely move.

"How is this possible?! How can you be able to move?" Hetsuimaru had stopped draining the energy of the group once she realized what had happened.

Serena stood up tall and looked at the vine demon straight in the eyes. "Because I'm just lucky that way."

With her free hand, she used her Energy Wipe to cut down the remaining vines. Hetsuimaru screamed as the vines were destroyed and Serena walked toward her.

"This isn't happening! I must have your energy! I will not allow this to happen!" Screeched Hetsuimaru. The vines of her hair were moving around threatening. "Your life force will be MINE!"

Hetsuimaru sent her hair vines directly at Serena. The girl just smirked and started running. She ran swiftly through all the vines and then jumped into the air. She raised Shiunga and the blade became a dark purple color again. She then slashed at the vines in front of her while yelling, "DRAGON CYCLONE!"

An enormous purple and dark pink cyclone formed and attacked the incoming vines. The cyclone then went toward the vine demon herself.

As she was being destroyed by the cyclone, Hetsuimaru screamed, "How could a mere half demon brat beat me?!!!" She then turned into dust and was gone.

Serena saw the jewel shard fall to the ground as she put the Shiunga away.

As she went to it, Sesshomaru couldn't help but gawk at her but didn't show it. That was truly incredible! He thought as he watched her. His strength was slowly returning as he sat on the ground. She is very powerful and fearless.

Serena picked up the jewel shard and went back to her to the group to see if they were alright.