Now I know most of you saw me say to download that song and were like 'Ah ha, ha, ha, no.' Those of you that did, it was pretty cool huh? Fits it perfectly. :P Some people seemed confused about the storyline. It wasn't an alteration on just the land, the people were changed from the virus to. Business suits to Kimono's, and all the descendants of the overrulers such as lords and emperors were placed back in their positions, k? Anyway, the Blood Inferno clan will be verrrrry important to our story line. And there may be more than just enemies between Inuyasha and the clan as well...
Read on!
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Sango nuzzled Inuyasha's cheek as she rode on his back, Luna flying through the air with wings of fire on her back beside them, and Kohaku and Shiori rode atop Kilala who had found her way to Sango in the middle of the night. Apparently, Miroku, Kouga, Kagome, and Akitoke had all found ways to meet up with each other. Akitoke had been staying with Kaede the day Sango had gone through the bone eaters well, and Kaede had sealed his body up in some sort of spell in tribute to Kagome and her own little group.
Kouga was of the darkness, so he was immortal. Miroku had been with Kagome and so escaped through the time, as did Shippo. Everything was back to normal, excluding the great Sesshomaru. Sango had been surprised to see what Inuyasha had named his sword, and held his hand as he looked to the moon in pride. Such a fine man Inuyasha had come to be. And he was hers. Sango looked ahead, however, when Inuyasha's head shot up and he slanted his eyes. He had decided to go running instead of use his tail, as he enjoyed the exercise.
"I smell...something."
"What do you mean, something?"
"I don't know. It smells half demon, but also...something, strange...It smells like blood, and roses..."
Sango blinked in question and was about to say something when someone came into view. It was a man, whom looked about the same age as Inuyasha and Sango. The creature had black cat's ears and a black cat's tail. His hair was all black, and it went down past his head in all directions, like long slopes for each hair. His eyes were a deep amber against his black hair. He wore a shirt like Sesshomaru's, but it was black and only had one sleeve, the sleeve however possessed red roses atop the black. His legs were covered by black samurai pants, and black tabi socks. His shoes were black sandals, with a white rose pin keeping the straw ties in place.
He was standing in front of a forked road. Two very deadly looking swords were set on his waist, and his hand was on his chin. The swords were red, with black hilts. He was muttering something odd, and they all came to a slow stop behind him. Luna was blushing very heatedly. Cat attraction, perhaps? Sango giggled, and this caught the creature's attention. He turned in place and blinked. Sango and yes, even Inuyasha as well as the rest of the group were sent into a short shiver from his eyes. They were amber and had thin pupils, but they possessed no...happiness. There was a deep and permanent sorrow there, and sense of being incomplete somehow. But maybe they were reading too much into it.
The creature spoke, bowing in place.
"Good morning, Lord Inuyasha and pack. I am glad I have found you."
Sango slid from Inuyasha's back, and Inuyasha stood tall, his long hair blowing in the wind. This thing was...like Inuyasha. Half demon, but turned demon. Of a darkness, but not the same darkness Trinity had given him. No, his darkness was born from something else. Inuyasha tilted his head, speaking.
"For what purpose do you seek my presence?"
"I hear you hunt for my head. So I have decided to take yours from you, instead."
Inuyasha made a soft 'tch' sound, shaking his head.
"I do not hunt unnecessary conflict. State your name, so I may know if I seek your death or not."
"I am Kuro Chigatana, former leader of the Blood Inferno clan."
Inuyasha lifted his hand into the air and flexed his fingers, the knuckles popping, before he lowered his hand to the hilt of his Sesshomaru. Drawing the blade, he pointed the great sword at Kuro, and watched as Kuro held his position, not drawing his weapon.
"Draw your swords, cat demon, so I may kill you."
"I do not require my blades to defeat one such as you."
Inuyasha's anger flared at that insult to his honor. Inuyasha brought the Sesshomaru back and leapt forward at Kuro, swiping at Kuro's neck in a horizantal sweep. Kuro looked Inuyasha in the eye as the blade neared his throat, and then closed them. Even with Inuyasha's perceptive senses, there was only a flicker of movement, and Kuro was gone. Inuyasha held his stance, looking back and forth, when he heard a voice pierce the air. Only now did Inuyasha feel Kuro's back against his own, Kuro's arms crossed as he stared forward, away from Inuyasha.
"A demon slayer, a demon slayer's younger kin or so I presume, a two tail, a bat-demon of barriers, possibly the Shiori I have heard of, and a cat demon. Truly an odd band to travel with a demon dog, but I do not ask for company much so my opinion is quite biased."
"Your opinion means nothing to me."
Kuro bent his legs, and then backflipped into the air as Inuyasha spun to sweep his sword at Kuro. Kuro flipped twice, and then landed down, arms resting at his sides as his swords settled at his waist. Kuro closed his eyes, and lifted his hands to his blades.
"I apologize if I have made you impatient, Lord Inuyasha. I shall kill you swiftly, if you so desire."
Kuro drew his blood blades, and held them in the odd stance he usually did, hilts forward, and blades backward. Inuyasha grunted in disapproval, and then leapt into the air. Kuro mimicked him, and met him in the air in a clash of blades. Inuyasha thrust towards Kuro's middle, but Kuro simply turned sideways and avoided the stab. As Inuyasha turned the sword and swept it, continuing the attack to the left, Kuro raised his legs up in the air and the blade went flying past. Inuyasha retracted his blade, spun it, and then gripped the handle, stabbing downward with both hands.
Kuro lifted his swords in an ex fashion, and caught the tip of the Sesshomaru on top of both of his swords, blinking softly. Such a fool, this dog was, to attempt to best Kuro in swordplay. Kuro pushed the blades to the right and as Inuyasha was thrown to the right, Kuro twisted in the air, his back, shoulder, back, shoulder, body hitting the Sesshomaru as he rode up it's blunt side as he twisted, and then thrust his fist into Inuyasha's face, launching him forward into the air and causing him to land down on the ground beside Sango, on one knee.
Kuro landed down, holding both blades in the air, and then sheathed them, his eyes still dull. Kuro looked up, speaking.
"Forgive me, Lord Inuyasha. However I enjoy playing with my prey, despite their sometimes forceful stubbornness. I shall take my leave of you now, as you are beneath my blade."
"Wait."
Inuyasha spoke, and stood up. Kuro stopped, turning to look at Inuyasha. Inuyasha's sword was glowing as a purple whirlwind began around the blade itself, and a small black orb rested at the tip.
"My dragon twister shall eradicate you. But before I take your life, cat demon, tell me. You said you were the former leader of the blood inferno clan. Why did you resign your position?"
"...that is a story for another time, I am afraid."
"Dragon."
Inuyasha brought the sword into the air, and then cast it down towards Kuro, watching with an eager sense of victory. Kuro sighed, shaking his head, and began to move. The purple energies and the black orb. Kuro swept his right foot in a half circle and ducked low, two purple energy winds slashing past him, and Kuro leaned back, a wind passing over him, and then placed his hand on the ground behind him, flipping backward, and then resting his stomach against the ground, the large black orb flying above him.
A wind was closing in on him fast, and another one above it. There was an opening between both, so Kuro pushed up into the air at the last second and twisted twice, the two energies flying past him. He placed his hands onto the ground, bent his legs inward, and then pushed off, passing above the last wind, and then leaning forward, and landing down. He was on one knee, hands on the ground beside him. He slowly stood up, looking at Inuyasha as the group stared at him in amazement. He spoke, slanting his eyes.
"Lord Inuyasha. I hold the title of best martial artist in this land. I am the fastest demon, and the most flexible. I am agile, and fast. I am precise, and accurate. I am the perfect assassin. You cannot defeat me with such brute forces."
"Hold your tongue! I, am the greatest martial artist in this land. Not you!"
Luna spoke up for once, and jumped up in front of Inuyasha. She allowed her wings to dissipate, and Inuyasha was about to interrupt when she challenged Kuro.
"Get ready to have your title stripped of you, Kuro!"
"...I shall not harm you. I hold no quarry with you, and unless you strike me, I shall not harm you."
"I guess then I'll just have to pummel the fight out of you!"
Luna shot forward, rushing with speed Inuyasha could not match. Inuyasha was power, and grace. Luna was speed, and grace. This Kuro creature was speed, agility, grace. What could they do but try, right? Luna thrust her right fist at Kuro's head, and then her left knee at his stomach. Kuro tilted his head to one side and her hand flew past, and Kuro caught her knee with his hand. He blinked at her once, before pushed her back a foot or so, and then shaking his head. She growled and jmped forward, going at it once more.
She brought her right leg towards his face for a roundhouse kick, but he leaned back and her foot passed over him. He lifted his right leg when she continued her sweep and jabbed her heel at his ankle, but when he lifted his right leg she fell forward from the momentum. Kuro bent his legs and then pushed off into the air, sailing above her, before halting in the air, floating. How he did it, none of them knew. Kuro watched her, and then looked into the sky, inhaling for a moment, and then looked back down at them all.
"Do you truly all wish for such a death?"
As they were about to retaliate in full force, Kuro twisted in the air and leaned back far, eyes still half lidded in their calm state even as a bright purple streak passed over his body. Kuro descended as the sacred arrow that had nearly purified him flew off, and Kagome cursed under her breath for missing. Kagome, Miroku, Kouga, Akitoke, and Shippo all stood there, all of them watching Kuro with a determination. Then, Kagome's eyes fell on Inuyasha and his pack, and she noticed his new sword. Was that the Sesshomaru they had heard about?
Sango made a soft 'hmph' sound when Miroku looked towards her, blinking softly, and inched her way to Inuyasha's side. Kuro landed down on the ground, looking between the two groups. He closed his eyes, and spoke.
"...A priestess. A monk. The weilder of the spear of spirits. A fox demon. A wolf demon. A dog demon. A demon slayer, a demon slayer's younger kin or so I presume, a two tail, a bat-demon of barriers, possibly the Shiori I have heard of, and a cat demon. All with proficient weaponry, skill, and power. Such enemies I have made."
Miroku spoke up. He looked the same as he did long ago, but held a sort of maturity about him.
"I will reveal your true nature now, Kuro Chigatana. You shall not escape purification. Justice, be done!"
Miroku swept sacred sutras at Kuro and they landed atop his chest, and his arms. Miroku grinned, and everyone except for Kuro knew those particular sutras. Blue, represented happiness. Red, represented hatred. Purple, represented sorrow. Black, represented emptiness. Kuro looked down at the sutras, and for a moment, there was nothing. Then, an explosion, of aura. Purple, dominated everything, a giant whirlwind, a wall of purple winds surrounding both groups, colored by streaks and blotches of red and black. Not a single touch of blue could be found.
The sacred sutras soon burned away into blue flames and fell to the ground as Kuro watched them all. Miroku stepped back, clutching his staff.
"Such a sadness encompasses you. Why are you so filled with sorrow?"
Kuro looked to the monk, and watched with still half lidded eyes. Kuro could smell the pity and curiosity rolling off of all of them, excluding Inuyasha who merely felt sympathy, and sighed, closing his eyes.
"To invade someone's soul...the only sanctuary they possess from the outside world...is a crime no man or demon should have the evil to commit, monk...if you wish to know why I am saddened so...find my home...come as one, or not at all...and I shall tell you...but not here...not in the open...my scent should be trail enough. Goodbye for now, my enemies."
Kuro placed his hand above his heart and bowed to them, before bending his knees, and pushing into the air. His body suddenly burst into rose petals as he vanished, no trail left behind excluding his own scent. Inuyasha growled.
"He said come as one...we have to travel together."
Sango moaned, placing her head on Inuyasha's back to stifle it from being heard by Kouga. This was going to be akward, and unpleasant. Still, none of the people there could hope to defeat their pack. Speaking of which, Sango looked past Inuyasha. Kagome, looked the same like Miroku. Akitoke's hair was longer. Kouga's hair was no longer, but he no longer wore a ponytail, rather he let it hang loosely around his shoulders. Shippo had a long, gorgeous fox tail. His hair was in a helmet-head fashion, and his clothing was the same red haori and hakama Inuyasha had worn before his transformation. Adorable.
Sango sighed, looking to Inuyasha.
"We'd better hook up with them and set up camp."
"I know where his home is located. I can follow his scent."
"Yes, but if we are going to have to fight him we should be strategic about it."
"..."
"...good point. Let's get going then."
Inuyasha watched as Kagome began to approach, holding Akitoke's hand, and Kouga and Miroku both walked beside her. Kouga locked eyes with Inuyasha, and Inuyasha locked eyes with Kouga, sparks flying between the two. Kagome and Sango gave each other an akward giggle, and then actually hugged each other. Sango enjoyed the embrace. Kagome was her friend, despite what she had done. After all, if not for Kagome, Sango would not have discovered her feelings for Inuyasha. Shippo bounded into Sango's arms, and then began tugging on Inuyasha's pants, demanding attention.
Inuyasha introduced everyone to everyone, and they all agreed to move forward immediately. Inuyasha bent his knees, allowing Sango to get atop him, and they all took their respective places to be in one group, and followed Inuyasha. Sango giggled and jumped from his back, running alongside him, holding her Hyoretsuzan on her back with the long strap. She actually kept pace with him, as they continued to run forward. Soon, they broke the forest, and came upon a grassy clearing. There were cats scattered everywhere, meowing and purring, some were larger felines such as panthers, lions, and tigers.
A large black and white tiger stood in the center of them, resting it's head on it's paws. It was the size of a small car! The beast's ears flicked when it heard them approach, and stood. It was not white with black stripes like a siberian tiger, but black with white stripes. It looked at them with a knowing gaze, and stepped aside. They found it was hiding a large cave entrance, protecting it. Inuyasha watched as the tiger stood aside, and they all began inside. At first it was dark. Very dark. Only Luna and Shippo's flame could light the way.
Shiori remained quiet, as usual, but provided a barrier in case anything might happen. They finally emerged into light, and what they saw made them gasp. They were standing on a shore, a rock bed in front of an underground lake. The lake was covered with thousands upon thousands of roses all drifting and bouncing against each other, cat fish swimming beneath the surface. In the center of the lake, standing atop the water, was Kuro. His eyes were closed, and he was looking at a golden statue that rested deep beneath the water, of a tiger resting beneath a human woman.
Kuro looked up as they approached, and lifted his hand. Sweeping it to the side, the roses in front of them parted, and a large stone pathway emerged from the surface. Kuro lowered his arm, and as the stone surface rose, they found at the end of it, behind Kuro, was a small pedestal. Atop the pedestal, was a necklace. A necklace made of fangs, with a small golden circle on the end, blank. Kuro bowed to them, speaking.
"I am surprised you all found my home quickly...thank you for not speaking to or disturbing dear Hatchi..."
"Hatchi?"
Inuyasha asked, stopping a few feet before Kuro, the group all standing around him as the pathway was wide.
"My tiger. He is a demon tiger, only two of his kind remain, black with white stripes. A beautiful creature."
"Two remain you say. I am surprised you do not have the other."
"I indeed do have the other, Lord Inuyasha."
"Where is it, then?"
"I, am the other, Lord Inuyasha. I am Kuro Chigatana, the black tiger. This, is my tale."