As you well know, I do not own in anyway own Inuyasha and all creative rights go to the artistic genius that is Rumiko Takahashi. Now that we've gotten that out the way - enjoy!
Warning: May contain language and violence.
Chapter 5. Retribution pt.2 Betrayal
"Dammit! How the hell could you just let him get away!?", Inuyasha screamed as Kagome wrapped a bandage around his head.
"Shut up, mutt!", Koga retorted, "It's not my fault he kicked your ass and took your sword! I thought the damn thing had a barrier or something."
Miroku exited the hut, tired of hearing them argue.
"This is great! Now, not only does he have five jewel shards but he's got my Tetsusaiga too! No thanks to you!"
Koga stood up ready to beat him into the ground.
"I'm so sick of your mouth I could kill you!"
"Well who the hell's stoppin' you!"
He leaped up to meet him but was slammed to the ground when he heard the dreaded
words, "Osuwari!"
"Tch!", Koga spat as he left the hut.
"You wait here!", Kagome said to Inuyasha as she ran after Koga, only fueling his wrath.
"Koga, slow down!"
He stopped when he heard her voice.
"We could really use your help.", she said.
Koga glared back at the hut. They could hear Inuyasha ranting and raving even from this distance.
"Kagome, you know I'll help you and your friends, just not that mutt." He said, taking her hands in his, much to her surprise.
"Good.", she said pulling her hand from his.
Kagome looked like she'd been through hell and back. She'd taken so much time to care for the others that she hadn't paid attention to her own ailments. Her clothes were worn and tattered from the battle. She had a small cut on her cheek and her side ached from where she'd been caught and thrown from the blast.
Koga sighed heavily as he took her hand in his yet again and kissed it.
"Kagome, I'm going to get Ginta and Hakkaku down from the mountains. Worry not; I will return to you by nightfall my love!"
He declared the latter well within earshot of the fuming Inuyasha and with that he was off.
Kagome starred at him in shock and mild annoyance.
"He's almost normal until he gets around his buddy in there," she said to herself.
She decided to give Inuyasha time to sulk while she went to check on Sango at old Kaede's house. She made her way through the village until she got to the familiar house that sat at the entrance. She could still remember the first time she had come here. It seemed so long ago and yet . . .
"Kagome is back!", Shippo said excitedly as she walked in through the screen door.
"Hey everyone."
"Kagome, sit down child.", Kaede said as she poured a freshly brewed cup of tea.
"Thank you.", Kagome said clasping her hands around the tiny cup.
Kaede got up and walked to the other side of the room to the mat where Sango lay sleeping.
"How is she?"
"She only has a few bruises so far as I can tell, but the battle must have taken its toll nonetheless.
With a little rest she should be fine by tomorrow."
"Good."
Her mind soon began to wonder as she sipped her tea. Tetsusaiga had been stolen and wielded by a demon, by Kimaryu. But it didn't make any sense. How could a demon even touch the Tetsusaiga, let alone wield its power? Even with the added power of the jewels he shouldn't have been able to take hold of it. And those eyes of his, those terrible hazel and green eyes . . .
What was he planning? With five jewel shards and the fang of destruction he couldn't possibly be in hiding. No, he was after something more than just their lives. That wicked gleam in his eyes had shown her too much.
Kaede glanced back at her.
"Kagome, what's wrong child? Ye look pale."
"I-It's nothing; just a little tired.", She said nervously.
They both knew she was lying. They had not seen the last of Kimaryu. No-by all means this was just the beginning.
Sesshomaru stood by the river. The wind carried with it the scent of a fast approaching demon. Kimaryu . . . still alive.
Jaken scampered to his master's side.
"What is it, my lord?"
Sesshomaru continued to stare off into the sky, ignoring his vassal's inquiry. There was another scent in the air, traveling with Kimaryu's. It was . . .
No-Impossible!
"Go to Rin."
Jaken looked up at him in concern.
"Why, my lord? Is something about to happen?", he asked, begging for an answer.
Sesshomaru turned to him signaling him to be silent and obey his command and he took off up the hill. The cool breeze began to pick up, and with the sudden gust came an overwhelming aura.
The sky blackened as this force drew ever closer. Sesshomaru felt the pull of five jewel shards through the surges air including the one he'd lent him. Had he succeeded?
A bolt of lightning ripped across the sky as the demon emerged from the forest. His icy gaze met Sesshomaru's as he floated across the river, supported by the power of the shards. Sesshomaru was unimpressed.
"I see Inuyasha was unsuccessful in taking your life. What a shame. I actually had faith in him.", He said cooly.
Kimaryu grinned.
"What did you expect?"
He knelt down on one knee and bowed.
"You need not feign reverence, Kimaryu. I . . ."-he was cut short when he saw Kimaryu withdraw the blade from the boa around his shoulder and hold it up for him to see.
"I come bearing gifts.", He said.
Sesshomaru's demeanor shattered and he stepped back.
"How did you . . . ?"
"Take it, my lord."
Sesshomaru could scarcely hide his shock.
"You dare mock me?"
Kimaryu looked up, enjoying every minute.
"What do you mean my lord?"
Sesshomaru writhed with anger.
"Surely you realize that I, a youkai, cannot . . ."
The words would not come to him, chocked off by fury.
"But what am I to do with such a lofty blade?"
Sesshomaru turned and walked away.
"Begone from my sight."
Kimaryu rose to his feet, a wicked grin reflecting in the crystal clear water.
Sesshomaru stopped, sensing he was still there.
"You have what you came for, do you not?"
Kimaryu pointed the blade straight ahead and said, "Not everything."
The sword transformed and he rushed forward.
Tokijin whipped out from under Sesshomaru's obi and clashed with the Tetsusaiga as he turned to face the traitor.
"What are you after, Kimaryu?"
Kimaryu smirked as they stood toe to toe.
"You ask that now? You really must work on your timing, cousin."
"I just thought I should now before I kill you!"
Sesshomaru broke free and the battle began. Their swords met, like the sound of crashing thunder. Blade against blade. Fang against fang in a maelstrom of deadly intent that caused the ground to tremble beneath them. Kimaryu ascended and Sesshomaru followed. Again their swords met as they rose higher and higher, climbing until they swore they could feel the clouds just above them. Then they fell.
"Wind Scar!"
Kimaryu swung the sword unleashing its power as they came back to earth.
Sesshomaru fired a pulse of blue light straight through the oncoming attack and it struck Tetsusaiga and Kimaryu head on. His body came crashing down, seemingly lifeless as Sesshomaru flew down to finish the job.
"Die!"
At the last second Kimaryu rolled to the side as Tokijin stabbed through the spot where he was. He kicked his cousin back and he was on his feet. Again they were locked face to face.
"Such a fool.", Kimaryu spat, "You intended to use me to kill your brother. You honestly believed I would heed your command? You, a mere pup."
Sesshomaru's demeanor did not falter.
"I never expected anything from you. You, a traitor."
Kimaryu smiled from behind Tetsusaiga's blade.
"So . . . you know?"
"I've always known. The day the castle fell . . . It was all your doing!"
Sesshomaru sent him reeling in blast of fury.
"After everything he did for you! You turned your back on us! You killed your people!"
Kimaryu regained his stance and beared his fangs at this revealed truth.
"You killed your own people!"
From atop the nearby hill Jaken and Rin looked on in confusion.
"Master Jaken, what is Lord Sesshomaru talking about? Who did that demon down there kill?", she asked.
Jaken was just as dumbfounded as she. "I don't know."
" I turned my back!?", Kimaryu roared, "Do you forget the countless soldiers who died in his honor, fighting a battle he knew they couldn't win!? He left us to die that day to save a pack of humans! They all died that day because of him!"-
Kimaryu suddenly fell to his knees in pain. He gripped his face; his head felt as if it would split at any moment. The memories. The screams. The deaths he swore he would never remember were all coming back to him , clawing at him.
"What's the matter? Don't tell me I've struck a nerve."
"Shut up!"
"Are you in pain, Kimaryu. You don't the meaning of the word, but . . ."-
"Shut UP!"
Kimaryu raised Tetsusaiga.
-"I shall teach you!"
"Wind Scarrrr!"
"Dragon Strike!"
Streams of lightning exploded from Tokijin and completely devoured the Tetsusaiga's Wind Scar.
"No!", Kimaryu screamed as the bolts of lightning came crashing down upon him, ripping through him.
A wave of water exploded into the air along with smoldering earth and grass, then came raining down as a thick black cloud descended.
"Pathetic." Sesshomaru said.
"Lord Sesshomaru!"
Rin came running down the hill to her lord when he turned to her in fear.
"Stay back!"
A thin streak of crimson light flew from the smoldering crater aimed straight for the girl.
"Rin!"
Sesshomaru flew over her, shielding her as the beam of light burned through his back and shot out his chest.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin screamed as Tokijin slipped from his grasp and he began to fall.
Out from the ashes rose Kimaryu, unscathed.
"Pathetic indeed." . . . . . . . . . . .
Quick note: Kimaryu and Sesshomaru are referring to two separate things when they speak of the past.