Chapter 8 – Battle Cry

Kurama watched, as Sarome conjured up her flames. They lapped around at her feet, bringing her hair to wrap around her body. Flames appeared at the tips of her three tails, her ears, and her hands. The jewel around her neck pulsed with power and strength.

Tarja had done close to the same thing. The wind was pulling at her extremely long hair, and her eyes were still black as night. Lightening began to form at her hands, and gray clouds began to form at her heals.

"Go Sarome!" Sango yelled from the sidelines.

Shelbra stood up, letting her voice be heard on the wind. "Begin!"

Sarome was the first to act. She let the flames engulf her entire body, setting off a heat wave towards Kurama and the others. When they were able to open their eyes, Sarome was in the air, still engulfed. Tarja smiled, and sent a lightening bolt at Sarome. It hit her, square in the chest, and she fell to the ground. Tarja didn't look the least bit worried. Kurama flinched, as if he felt it. He put his hand to the spot on his chest. It was the same place where Tarja hit Sarome. Hikaru noticed.

"Are you Ok, Kurama?" she asked. Kurama nodded. It looked like Hikaru smiled. "I see, so the prophecy was true." Her voice trailed off. Kurama decided to leave it at that, and talk to the dragon later on. He turned back to Sarome. She had a blade in her hand, and when she threw it, it lit into flames. Tarja blocked it, using a wind power to blow it the other way. "She better not call me in…" Hikaru said, beginning to unfurl her body from its curl.

"Hikaru!" Sarome yelled, now, with the flames gone. The dragon lifted into the air, and transformed into a larger form. Sarome got on her back, right behind her head. She whispered something, and the beast nodded. Hikaru headed for Tarja, but turned up at a 90 degree angle towards the sky. Sarome was right in front of Tarja, with her claws nice and sharp, against Tarja's throat. A small scrape appeared, and the scent of blood filled the air.

"Over!" Shelbra yelled. Sarome got off of Tarja, placing her hand on her neck. The blood disappeared, and the cut was too. Tarja's neck was back to normal. They were both laughing, and heading back over towards the group. "Tarja, that is 4-0, you know. You are on a losing streak."

"Only with Sarome, and my powers are newer than yours, so I am still working at them," Tarja said, sitting down next to Hikaru, who was now curled back up. "Sarome, why don't you get one of the newbies to face you."

"Newbie?" Sarome asked, turning to her friend. Kirara was on her shoulder. The small cat demon mewed. Tarja nodded her head towards Jin and Touya. "Ah."

"I'll face you," Touya said. "I will like to see if my powers even work here."

"I'll go easy on you," Sarome said, smiling, and nodding towards the battle field. "Loser streak, is what we'll battle to."

"Which one is that?" he asked, getting ready.

"No blood-shed, but only on the brink. You call 'death', when you would pierce their throat, and kill. I don't know why we call it that, we just do."

"Ah, Ok."

Shelbra's voice carried on the wind. "Begin!"

Sarome smiled, and launched herself towards Touya, not engulfing herself in flames like she did with Tarja. That is how all of the battles went. Sarome faced everyone, and beat everyone, including Kurama. She was very powerful. Katoma faced Hiei, and beat him. He wasn't too happy with that, and vowed revenge. Katoma merely laughed at his response, instead of taking it seriously. Hiei smiled at her laugh, but quickly hid it when he noticed everyone gaze.

Shelbra faced Jin, only to be beaten. He said later on that he would teach her some of his tricks, and that, in return, she taught him some of her moves and powers, and tips on surviving out here. Shelbra agreed.

Inuyasha faced everyone, only to be beaten by Yusuke, Kurama, and Sango. Tarja went up to Sarome again, and lost again, but when she faced Touya and Jin on a 1 on 2 battle, she beat both of them easily. She also faced Hiei, who won. Katoma smiled at him, and he smiled back, only for a quick second.

Kurama saw them later on, talking in a tree, and he though he saw Hiei put his hand around Katoma. He later on found Sarome at the waterfall, combing out her wet hair, and blood scent lingered in it. In the river, was blood.

"Sarome, are you Ok?" he asked. She didn't turn around, merely flicked her tail. "Sarome?"

"Don't come near me," she snapped. Her voice was filled with pain. "Go away, Kurama!" she yelled. "Go!"

Kurama took a step forward, and then, when he heard her snarl, he left as quickly as he could. Why is she like this? He thought. Earlier today, she was really happy, and now, she, well, she is going dark on me. Sarome…

He found Tarja alone, working on some of her battle strokes. "Hey, Tarja, has Sarome ever been, cold, to you before?" he asked.

"Cold? I don't think so. It is usually right before Naraku grabs hold of her, or, that she is bothered about something, why?" she asked. Kurama shook his head. I will deal with this.

"Nothing. I was just curious."

Tarja eyed him, and he smiled, trying to show that nothing was bothering him, and she bought it. Kurama decided to go back to the waterfall, and he saw Sarome, on the ground, unconscious. Over her body, was a young man. His hair was long and black, his eyes red with yellow pupils. He smiled, and his chuckle was filled with darkness and evil.

"Sarome!" he yelled. The man continued to laugh. He now held Sarome's limp body in his arms. A new scar ran over her right eye. It was a claw mark, just like the ones on her neck. She was still unconscious. "Sarome!"

"She cannot hear you, Kurama," the man said.

"Who are you?!" Kurama snapped. He already had his rose whip out and ready. He jumped into the air and brought it down. A barrier was brought up, and his rose whip melted before his very eyes.

"My name is Naraku," he said, laughing. "I am Sarome's master." His voice trailed off as he transformed into a miasma and disappeared.

"Sarome!" he yelled into the air. A tear fell down his face. He knew that he had just met Sarome. He knew that they were merely close friends, but, something inside of him told him to protect Sarome with his life, and he had just failed that duty. He had failed his instincts to stay with her, and soothe her. That led to her capture with Naraku. I have to go tell the others.

Kurama ran, as fast as he could, towards Kaede's Village, and his close friends.