Chapter 8 Crimson Steel

Time itself seemed frozen as Kagome and Kimaryu stood waiting for the other to make their movie. Inuyasha could hardly see as the rain continued to pelt his battered body, but he kept his eyes focused squarely on Kagome.

Kimaryu's eyes flashed with lighting as he watched the enemy, never faltering for a moment.

"What's the matter girl? You're shaking!"

She was indeed. The rain was making it harder for here to hold her ground. She losing her focus.

"Well then",said Kimaryu, "if you won't attack, I will!"

He flipped back to where Inuyasha lay wounded and raised the Tetsusaiga.

"Say goodbye!"

His insane laughter was suddenly cut short when he felt the cold steel of a sword pierce his back.

He looked down to see the blade jutting out of his chest.

"You!"

Sesshomaru pulled Tensaiga from the demon and kicked him away from Inuyasha.

"That sword!", Kimaryu screamed as he fell to his knees, "I sensed no power from it! How could such a weak blade have pierced me?"

A familiar malevolent grin lined Sesshomaru's face as he watched Kimaryu stumble.

"This sword doesn't hold the power to kill. You are right in that regard. However, it can slay those who are not of this world."

Kagome gasped as she realized what Sesshomaru was implying.

"He's. . . dead?"

Sesshomaru could scarcely hide his amusement.

"The mighty Kimaryu is nothing more than a specter who perished in battle years ago to my father."

Kimaryu's eyes burned with fury. His fangs glistened in the flashing light and a low growl escaped his throat.

"Who would have guessed that this useless piece of metal would be the key to your demise. Father always did seem to have a morbid sense of humor."

Kimaryu rose up as Sesshomaru rushed forward with new found vigor. Tetsusaiga and Tensaiga met as another bolt of lighting crashed down overhead.

"What!?", Kimaryu roared as the Tetsusaiga transformed back.

"Even better!"Sesshomaru shouted.

He drove Kimaryu back with a series of strikes and Kagome ran to Inuyasha's side.

"Are you alright?"

He nodded and reached up to stroke her face.

"You're not crying, are you?"

She shook her head, even knowing the tears were welling up.

"Kagome, you can do it."

His eyes closed and his hand fell from her face. She stood and her hold on the bow tightened as she looked on at the battle.

The swords clashed as Kimaryu was continually driven back. With each step back, Sesshomaru took two steps forward and countered every blow. Without the Tetsusaiga at his disposal, Kimaryu was sorely at a disadvantage. He had lost his edge and was relying solely on defense.

What was happening? With each strike, he was losing his ground. It was the Tensaiga's aura. Its very presence was cutting off the power of the jewel shards. Sesshomaru seemed to know this as he continued to unleash his assault. He moved forward, knocking Tokijin aside and sliced Kimaryu across the chest.

"Arhh!", Kimaryu roared as he fell back in agony.

Sesshomaru smirked as he admired the blood running down his blade. It sizzled and evaporated.

"It's over, Kimaryu. You've lost.", he said coldly.

Kimaryu looked up into his eyes with searing anger.

"Have I?"

With that, he leaped back and held up the Tokijin.

"Die!"

Bolts of demonic energy ripped through the air and flew at Sesshomaru. He knelt down and caught the attack with the Tensaiga and was able to divert it away from himself.

Kimaryu roared in anger and sent another blast screaming towards his cousin.

Sesshomaru easily deflected the attack and stood unscathed.

"I pray that was not all you can muster. Then again, it's not surprising that a fool like you is unable to tap into the power of either of the two swords you've pilfered."

Kimaryu stood not ten feet from him, his power nearly exhausted. The Tensaiga was sapping his life by the moment. He had to bring the fight to a close.

"You've done well Sesshomaru. You've figured out my little secret. That sword of yours is truly amazing and yet it will not save you." Kimaryu hissed, buying time.

"What are you babbling on about?"

The rain had stopped and now there was only the sound of thunder in the distance.

"Through the Tokijin, I've learned an awful lot about your relationship with the Tensaiga and Tetsusaiga. Oh, yes. It tells me that you despise the sword given you as your birthright and covet your brother's sword above all else."

Sesshomaru masked his growing anger.

"It also tells me that you've denied its thirst for blood for far too long. Could it be that human girl that has changed you so? Rin."

"What have you done with her?"

"Struck a nerve!", Kimaryu laughed, "Fear not! She is . . . unharmed. You, on the other hand, should be more concerned with your own fate."

With that, Kimaryu ran the palm of his hand across Tokijin's blade. His blood spilled out and covered the sword in a black haze.

"The sword's power is increased from blood. It matters not the source. Prepare yourself, Sesshomaru."

A dark aura suddenly engulfed Kimaryu and the Tokijin. He was preparing to unleash a terrible attack. Kagome ran to Sesshomaru's side and prepared her bow.

"We have to finish him!" She shouted.

"No."

Kagome turned to him in anger.

"We can't just stand here while he gets ready to kill us!"

Sesshomaru looked straight ahead.

"Don't think that because Inuyasha allows you to fight alongside him that I would."

Kagome stared at him in disbelief.

"I don't need your permission", She said as she raised her bow, "I'm taking him . . .NOW!"

"No!"

Sesshomaru knocked the bow from her hands, snapping the arrow in two.

"What have you done?" Kagome shrieked.

"He's just sealed your fates!" Kimaryu sang as he raised the Tokijin.

Sesshomaru turned to face him.

"He's mine!"

"Crimson Dragon Strike!"

Kimaryu waved Tokijin unleashing a barrage of blood red lighting that tore through the ground and air . Sesshomaru raised Tensaiga to defend himself but was hurled back.

"Inuyasha!" Screamed Kagome.

As she reached out for him she was ripped off the ground and he along with her. It was as if the very air were sucked out of her lungs as she was twisted about in the deadly surge of demonic power. Inuyasha's body was thrown past her as her world disappeared in flash of light.

Miroku's eyes widened in disbelief as he felt the pull of a strong demonic aura.

"Oh, no! Kilala, hurry!"

She nodded as the flames at her feet increased and blazed through the air.

Kimaryu walked through the smoking crater that was once the village and stopped short of Kagome and Inuyasha's bodies. He kicked Inuyasha out of the way and raised his sword over Kagome.

"Still alive. Just what are you?"

As he looked at her face, something in him snapped. Tetsusaiga fell from his hand and he began to quiver on his knees as if he was in pain.

"What is . . .happening to me?"

"Kimaryu."

He looked up to see a woman standing over him. A tall beautiful woman with long silver hair and piercing blue eyes returned his stare. She was wrapped in a silk white kimono that flowed freely like clouds. Her face held a certain sadness that for reasons unknown scorched Kimarayu's very being.

"Who are you?"

"Kimaryu, why have you done this?"

A ghostly pale hand reached out to touch him and then she was gone. Kimaryu open his eyes and he was back in the village. Kagome lay unconscious in front of him. Had she caused this vision?

He placed Tetsusaiga and Tokijin back under his belt and lifted Kagome up.

"Stop!"

Kimaryu turned to see Miroku approaching atop Kilala.

"You cannot stop me."

He waved his hand sending Miroku and Kilala flying backwards. Kimaryu turned and began to leave.

"No! Kagome!"

She disappeared with her captor behind the clouds.