Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha
CHAPTER SEVEN - The Powers of Karanosuke
Karanosuke had more or less accepted the fact that he was going to be a long term visitor in Kaede's village and the four children he'd met in the forest insisted on hanging around him, which he was less resigned to. No matter where he went they followed and no matter what he did they insisted upon participating. He took a walk through the forest to a clearing not far from the village, in an attempt to escape his constant companions, however the group of children followed him.
"Why do you insist on following me?" Karanosuke growled, his voice low.
"We will be your friends," the black haired boy named Suichi said. "Whether you like it or not."
The two girls, who were called Kira and Kisa, nodded their heads in agreement.
"Whatever," Karanosuke said. He turned to face a new member of the group. The demon had only recently joined his group of tormenters. "And who the hell are you?"
"My name is Shippo," the young demon replied. "I'm a fox demon."
"Is that a fact?" Karanosuke said, raising an eyebrow. He gazed at Shippo for a few seconds and then dismissed him with a shrug. This young fox posed absolutely no threat to him and thus was not worthy of a second thought. "You look surprisingly weak for a full fledged demon."
"I'm strong enough to defeat a child like you," Shippo burst out angrily, glaring at Karanosuke.
"Think so?" Karanosuke said with a smirk, completely unconcerned. "Prove it."
"Fox fire!" Green flames shot from Shippo's hands, swirled around for a few seconds and then dispersed.
"That was weak," Karanosuke said, shaking his head. "I could do better than that." He raised his right hand and, with a flick of his wrist, he sent blue flames flying. The bright flames swirled around the young boy for a few seconds before incinerating a nearby tree.
Shippo's jaw dropped and he turned to face Kyo, a questioning expression on his face. "How did he do that? I thought the boy was Sesshomaru's son. That makes him a DOG demon so how exactly was he able to use fox fire?"
"My mother was half fox demon," Karanosuke said, with a smirk. "That means I'm part fox demon as well as half dog demon."
Shippo glared at the young boy. "Fox fire's easy. I bet you can't do this."
He pulled a small wooden top from his kimono and twirled it in the air. As it twirled through the air the top grew to several times it's original size and headed straight toward Karanosuke.
"Why would I want to?" Karanosuke said, smacking the top away as though he were smacking at an annoying insect.
The toy reverted to it's original size and fell to the ground at Shippo's feet.
"Why didn't that work?" Shippo wanted to know.
"Because it's an illusion," Karanosuke pointed out. He couldn't believe that the fox demon was actually surprised that his attack, if it could even be called an attack, had failed. "I can't believe you thought that would work on me. What do you take me for?"
Shippo glared at the boy.
Karanosuke smirked. "Ahhh, I made the mighty fox demon jealous. I apologize."
"You do?" Shippo said, gazing over at the young boy incredulously.
"Yes," Karanosuke said, his voice simply dripping with sarcasm. "I apologize for your obvious lack of talent."
Kyo, Suichi, Kira and Kisa all burst into uncontrolled laughter.
"That wasn't funny," Shippo exclaimed.
"Yes it was," Kyo said through his laughter. "In case you haven't noticed, you're the only one not laughing and that's only because you're the one we're laughing at."
"Shut up Kyo," Shippo demanded.
"Who died and put you in charge?" Suichi asked.
"I'm the oldest," Shippo said. "That's why I'm in charge."
"Age means nothing," Karanosuke said. "I'm more powerful and could easily kill you with a mere flick of my wrist. And that means I don't have to listen to you."
Kyo nodded. "I'm with him."
Shippo laughed. "Don't force me to hurt you, kids." The young fox demon put special emphasis on the word kids.
Karanosuke raised his right hand to chest height and cracked his knuckles, which he did habitually just before a battle. "Is that a challenge?"
"I think it was," Kyo said, coming to stand beside Karanosuke.
Karanosuke flicked his wrist and the light whip shot from his index finger. He twirled the whip and sliced the branches off several trees. The severed branches fell and came to rest at the boy's feet. "Still think you stand a chance against me?
Shippo was speechless. He stared wide eyed at the trees that Karanosuke had just pruned with his strange energy whip.
Karanosuke followed Shippo's gaze. "That's the fate that awaits you if you don't cease with your threats and demands."
Shippo regained his composure. "That's nothing. All you did was manipulate your energy and turn it into a solid form."
Karanosuke smirked. "Just because you can explain it doesn't make it less dangerous."
"Huh," Shippo said. "You're not so tough."
Karanosuke's eyes turned an eerie, demonic red and the demonic wind began to swirl around him.
"Oh no!" Kyo and Suichi both exclaimed at the same time.
Kira and Kisa had also witnessed the boy's transformation in the forest on the day that he'd first appeared in the village and they knew that Shippo had gone too far with his taunts. Nothing good could come of the demonic transformation that the young boy was about to undergo.
"Uh Shippo," Kira said in a small voice, her gaze shifting back and forth between Shippo and Karanosuke. "You might want to apologize to Karanosuke while you still have the chance."
"Why would I do that?" Shippo asked.
"Because you're still breathing," Kisa said. "And if you've grown fond of that habit, apologizing would be a good idea."
Karanosuke transformed into the demon dog and growled, baring his large fangs.
The young fox demon was instantly terrified.
"Karanosuke!" Suichi yelled, a pleading tone to his voice. "He didn't mean any harm. Please don't hurt him, he's just an idiot."
The large dog demon paid no attention to Suichi's pleas. And surprisingly enough he didn't seem to be paying any attention to Shippo either. His gaze was focused on a cluster of bushes, behind Shippo, and a few yards away.
Kyo stared at the bushes also, his dog ears pricked. He heard rustling coming from the bushes and his sensitive nose picked up the scent of a demon. "Suichi, Karanosuke didn't transform into the demon dog because of what Shippo said. He transformed because we were being spied on by a demon."
Karanosuke took a couple of steps toward the bushes and the group of children saw a blur leap from behind them. The figure came to stand a few feet away from the group.
"It seems I've been discovered," the demon growled. "Damn. I was so looking forward to a good meal."
"He wanted to eat us," Kira said, a look of horror on her face.
"Yes," the demon said with a snarl. "And I'll still be able to eat and run. I'll just have to choose my victim wisely and settle for just one."
The demon ran toward the group, but his charge was cut short by Karanosuke. The demon dog jumped between the demon and his intended victims and bared his fangs.
"So you want to fight do you?" the demon growled. "So be it."
The demon charged toward the boy.
Karanosuke stood calmly and watched the demon's approach. Just as the demon was about to sink his claws into the boy's flesh, Karanosuke swiped him away with his paw.
The demon flew through the air, landed on the ground and skidded a few feet.
"Damn," the demon muttered. "I misjudged this half breed. He's to much for me to handle. I must escape while I still can."
The demon jumped to his feet and dashed off toward the bushes.
Karanosuke saw what the demon's intentions were and quickly prevented the beast's escape. With a mighty leap the dog demon launched himself through the air and landed on the ground in the demon's path. The demon fell to his knees and held up his hands in a pleading gesture. "Please spare me."
The demon dog suddenly disappeared, replaced by Karanosuke in his human-ish form. "Be gone demon. And know this. If you ever come near this place again, be assured I will kill you.
"Thank you so much," the demon said. "You are truly kind."
Karanosuke shook his head. "No. That's not it. You're simply not worth my time. Now leave this place and never come back."
The demon nodded and fled.
"Wow," Kisa said. "That was great Karanosuke."
"It was no big deal," Karanosuke said, shrugging off the compliment.
"Come," Suichi said to the group. "We should get back to the village."
Karanosuke stared at Suichi, debating on whether or not he should refuse. He quickly decided to return to the village with the others however and fell into step behind Kyo. It wasn't as though he had anything better to be doing with his time and until he got a lead as to the whereabouts of his father hanging out in the village wasn't so bad. Not that he would ever admit this fact to the others.
Inuyasha and Kagome were sitting outside their hut at the edge of the village when the group of children returned from their adventure in the forest.
"Where have you kids been?" Kagome asked.
"We went to the clearing in the middle of the forest," Suichi informed his mother.
"I see," Kagome said. "And what did you do there?"
"They picked on me," Shippo complained.
"Oh shut up," Kyo said, turning to glare at the fox demon. "We may have picked on you but had it not been for Karanosuke you probably would have been supper for that demon. Cause we all know there's no way you could have defeated him."
"Yea," Suichi said. "You know, for a full fledged demon, you're really weak."
"See?" Shippo burst out. "There they go again."
Inuyasha and Kagome ignored Shippo's whining. They were much more interested in what Kyo had said.
"What do you mean he probably would have been supper for a demon?" Inuyasha asked. "What demon?"
"We encountered a demon in the clearing," Kyo explained. "We didn't hear him at first because we were having fun at Shippo's expense."
Karanosuke nodded. "Then I picked up the demon's scent and transformed. And in my transformed state, I confronted the demon."
"Who was clearly no match for him," Kisa said, her voice filled with awe.
"Yea," Suichi said, nodding his head in agreement. "The demon attacked him a couple of times and then, realizing that he was no match for Karanosuke he tried to flee. Karanosuke prevented his escape but then let him go when the demon begged for his life."
Kagome smiled softly and thought to herself. "That's good. It appears that he's not as cold hearted as his father was."
After Karanosuke saved the other children from the demon they became even more bothersome than they were before. They now followed him around continuously and when Karanosuke demanded an explanation for their constant company they told him simply that wherever he was action was sure to follow.
Karanosuke glared at the group. "I'm beginning to think that saving you wasn't such a good idea. Perhaps I should have allowed the demon to have you."
"That's mean," Kisa said. "You don't mean that."
Karanosuke opened his mouth to make a comment and then abruptly shut it again. There was no point in arguing with these people. It did no good. They just ignored him and continued to follow. Karanosuke wasn't big on pointless arguments so he opted to let the matter drop, although his annoyance over the situation did not lessen.
Kyo and Suichi walked beside Karanosuke, one on each side of him, and placed their arms around his shoulders. "So Karanosuke, what are we gonna do today?"
"Absolutely nothing," Karanosuke told him, shrugging off the hold they had on him.
"Don't do this," Kyo said. "Don't become dull."
"Yea," Suichi said. "Up until now hanging out with you has been the highlight of our days."
"Do you think I enjoy having demons attacking me constantly?!" Karanosuke burst out, glaring at the two boys.
Kyo stared at the other boy. "Well it certainly makes your life exciting."
Karanosuke started to say something and then stopped. Kyo had a valid point and Karanosuke couldn't deny the fact that he occasionally enjoyed the fights he was forced to take part in. There was no doubt that without them his life would indeed be boring.
"Come on," Karanosuke said suddenly. "Let's take a walk to the river and see what happens."
"Now you're talking," Kyo said excitedly.
Suichi nodded and the group of kids left the village and headed in the direction of the river. Karanosuke led the way, followed by Kyo and Suichi and then Kira and Kisa.
Suichi was the first to notice that one of their group was absent for this particular journey. "Hey, I wonder where Shippo is?"
"Who cares," Kyo said. "If he's not here we don't have to listen to his incessant whining."
"This is true," Suichi said.
When the group of kids arrived at the river they stood at the edge of the water, staring at their reflections. "Well," Kyo said, throwing a pebble into the river and watching as it skipped across the water. "That trip was surprisingly dull."
Suichi nodded his head in agreement. "That's the first time since Karanosuke arrived that we've been able to go any where without being attacked by a demon."
"Yea," Kira said. "The one time we want something to happen, we get peace and quiet."
"This is wrong. Things are too quiet," Karanosuke mumbled, more to himself than to the others. "Something IS going to happen. I just can't figure out what that something is however I get the feeling that it's going to be more than we bargained for."
While the others stood skipping rocks on the water, Karanosuke wandered a short distance away from them. He sniffed the air, searching for some sign of the danger that he sensed however even his hightened senses couldn't pick anything up. "What could it be?"
Kyo noticed that Karanosuke was staring off into the distance and he walked over and joined him. "What is it Karanosuke?"
"I don't know why, but I have this feeling that something bad is going to happen," Karanosuke said.
"Hmmm," Kyo said. "I've had the same feeling but thought I was imagining it."
"Things are too quiet," Karanosuke said. "Something will happen before we leave this place."
Thoroughly engrossed in their conversation the two boys didn't notice that they were no longer off to themselves. Kyo and Karanosuke were jarred out of their conversation, however when they both felt someone grab one of their ears. Both boys jumped and whirled around, pulling their ears free from their captor. Kira, Kisa and Suichi smiled at the two boys.
"So," Kisa said. "What were the two of you in such deep conversation about?"
"Nothing," Karanosuke said.
"You lie," Suichi said.
"Can't fool you nii-san," Kyo said. "So how's this? It's none of your business what we were talking about. That work better for ya?"
Suichi's jaw dropped. "I can't believe you said that to me."
"Believe it," Kyo said.
Karanosuke stared at the two brothers in dismay. "Do you two ever shut up?"
"Not often," Kyo said. "You'll just have to learn to deal with it."
Karanosuke turned away from the two squabbling brothers and focused his attention on a cluster of bushes. He stared at the bushes, trying to figure out what was lurking beyond them.
"What are you staring at Karan?" Kisa asked.
"Nothing," Karanosuke replied.
"You're lying again," Suichi said.
"No," Karanosuke said, shaking his head. "I hear something out there but I can't see it."
"I hear it too," Kyo said, coming to stand beside Karanosuke. Both boys stared off into the distance for a few moments, their dog ears pricked.
"Suichi," Karanosuke said in a quiet voice. "You stay here with the girls. Kyo and I are going to go and look for whatever's been spying on us."
"Why can't we come?" Kisa demanded.
"Because we don't know what we're going in search of," Kyo said. "We don't want to put you girls in danger."
"We're both trained demon slayers, plus Kisa's in training to become a priestess," Kira said, slightly annoyed by the fact that Karanosuke didn't think they could fight. "And we're just as tough as you."
"No," Karanosuke said, shaking his head. "You're not. You may fight better than normal humans, but you're still humans. Kyo and I both have demon blood and that will ensure our survival should a battle become necessary. However we would not be able to guarantee the same for any of the rest of you. So you must remain here."
The two girls scowled at Karanosuke but Suichi slowly began to nod his head, in agreement.
"Yes," Suichi said. "The three of us will stay here but if the two of you aren't back soon we'll go and get Father."
Kyo nodded, accepting the terms.
"Come Kyo. I think we're about to find the excitement you've been craving all day."
"It's about damn time," Kyo said.
Karanosuke and Kyo left the girls in the care of Suichi and headed toward the bushes. The two boys pushed the leaves aside and disappeared behind the large clusters of greenery. As the two boys walked in silence, they used their sensitive ears to pick up the faint sounds of what they knew would be trouble.
Karanosuke focused all his attention on the search. He knew that whatever he and Kyo were tracking had to be something that didn't want to be seen by them because it was trying so hard no to be heard. Normal, unrestrained movement caused far more noise than whatever they were following. Even with their sensitive hearing the two boys were having some difficulty following the sounds.
Karanosuke sniffed the air, trying to pick up an unusual scent, but found nothing. Not surprising. He'd expected that whatever was hiding from them would disguise it's scent.
"Damn," Karanosuke muttered under his breath. "It was spying on us and now we can't find it. How could it have covered such a vast amount of ground in such a short period of time?"
Karanosuke and Kyo followed the barely audible sounds for several miles, managing to keep within earshot of their prey. The two boys covered the ground fairly quickly, taking time out periodically to search the ground for signs that something had came through. Small signs here and there told them that they were on the right path.
Kyo studied a couple of broken twigs. "Something definitely came this way recently. I just hope it was the something that we're after."
"It was," Karanosuke assured him.
"How do you know that?" Kyo wanted to know.
"Simple," Karanosuke said. "There's no scent."
Kyo sniffed the ground and discovered that Karanosuke was right. Whatever had made this trail either had no scent or had done a really good job covering it up.
"We're getting closer," Karanosuke said. "Let's go."
Kyo nodded and the two boys continued their search.
After following the noises for nearly an hour Karanosuke and Kyo arrived at a cave deep within the forest. They stopped just outside the cave and listened intently, their dog ears pricked. The noise that they had been following were definitely emanating from within the cave.
"Just as I thought," Karanosuke said.
"What?" Kyo demanded.
"Whatever's inside that cave wasn't trying to elude us, as we first thought. It wanted us to find it." Karanosuke said. "In fact, it's been leading us here with it's call the whole time."
"So it's a trap," Kyo said.
"Looks like," Karanosuke replied.
"But I don't understand," Kyo said. "If it's been leading us here with a call, how did it make the trail that we've been following?
"That's simple," Karanosuke said. "It merely manipulated something else with it's energy, most likely an inanimate object, and made the trail that way."
"And you've known this for how long?" Kyo wanted to know.
"For about the last couple of miles," Karanosuke told him.
"I see," Kyo said.
"Good job, dog demon," a voice suddenly erupted from within the cave. A light shone from the cave, illuminating a figure standing inside the cave. The figure appeared to be of medium height and a build similar to that of a human. And yet the two boys knew that what faced them from the darkness could not possibly be human. No human could mask their scent and send out a noise to lure them here. The figure disappeared once more as the strange light faded and then went out completely.
"Who are you?" Karanosuke demanded. "And what do you want with us?"
"I want you to free me," the voice said.
"Free you?" Kyo said, confused.
"Yes," the voice said. "I have been trapped within this cave for nearly two hundred years."
"Hate it for you," Karanosuke said. "And what makes you think we'll release you?"
"Because I have something very valuable to trade for my freedom," the voice said.
"What?" Kyo asked.
"You'll have to free me to find out," the voice taunted. "Suffice it to say many demons would give their right arm to possess this treasure."
"Yea," Kyo said, with a smirk. "The ones called lefty."
"My interest has been piqued," Karanosuke said, causing a shocked expression to appear on Kyo's face. "Tell me, how do I free you?"
"It's simple," the voice said. "All you have to do is to throw a rock through the barrier that blocks the entrance to the cave, thus breaking the barrier and granting me my freedom."
Kyo made a face. "If it's that simple why haven't you done it?"
"For me it's not that simple," the voice explained. "The person who sealed me inside this cave made the barrier resistant to my particular demonic energy. However you boys have demonic blood flowing through your veins and when you touch them, some of your demonic energy will be transferred to the rock and thus enable it to break the barrier."
"Hmm," Karanosuke said, debating whether or not to release the stranger.
"I don't think we should release him," Kyo said, for once trying to be the voice of reason. It was completely out of character for him however he sensed a tremendous evil radiating from the cave and although he was confident in his abilities he wasn't sure that he and Karanosuke could defeat it. "Whoever sealed him inside obviously had some reason for doing it and we have no idea what those reasons might have been. I think we should just walk away. We came to find out what was making the trail and we did. And the demon's no threat to us so let's go back to the others."
Karanosuke said nothing, however his actions said it all. He bent down and picked up a small rock. He stood in front of the cave and stared at the entrance, tossing the small rock up and down and catching it in his hand.
"That's it boy," the voice said excitedly from inside the cave. "Release me and you shall gain possession of my treasure."
Karanosuke tossed the rock up into the air, caught it and then abruptly hurled it toward the entrance of the cave. A blinding flash of red lit up the area and the two boys were surrounded by a mystic fog.
"What the hell?" Karanosuke swore.
"You have my thanks demon child," the voice said with a laugh. "And now I suppose you wish for me to honor my end of the bargain. So be it."
As the fog dispersed, Karanosuke and Kyo saw a figure standing before them. Out in the light the figure looked fairly human, except that the man's face had the bluish tint of someone that had frozen to death. Upon closer inspection Karanosuke noticed that the rest of the man's skin was bluish gray as well and his hair was a darker shade of blue.
"Who are you?" Kyo demanded.
"My name is Yasunori. I am an ice demon."
"Is that a fact?" Kyo said.
"Yes," the demon said, drawing a blade from the sheath that he wore at his side. "And this is my treasure. Taiketsu, the sword of elements. It was forged many centuries ago from the fangs of two very powerful demons."
"Elements?" Karanosuke repeated.
Yasunori nodded. "This blade has the power to call upon any of the elements and can invoke the powers of the elements and harness them for battle."
"Sounds like a powerful weapon indeed," Karanosuke said.
"Indeed," Yasunori said. "And if you can defeat me in battle then the sword shall be yours."
"You can's keep adding conditions to this agreement," Kyo said, an indignant expression in his eyes.
"I can and I did," Yasunori said.
"Very well," Karanosuke said. He held up his right hand and cracked his knuckles.
Kyo stared at his cousin and then gave voice to a question that he had been pondering since he had met the other boy. "Why do you do that before every battle? Does it give you added power or something?"
"Not really," Karanosuke said in a calm voice. "It just limbers up my hand and makes my energy whip easier to use."
"I see," Kyo said. "Alright then, proceed with the battle."
Yasunori pointed the blade of his sword at Karanosuke. "Are you ready boy?"
"Always," Karanosuke said.
"Very well then," Yasunori said. The ice demon ran toward Karanosuke at a blinding pace, the blade of the sword of the elements held above his head. When he reached the boy he swung the blade.
Karanosuke dodged the blade easily and swung his energy whip however, to his great surprise, the blade pulsed and fire shot from it. "Damn," Karanosuke cursed, jumping back. He barely managed to dodge the flames.
"I warned you boy," Yasunori said with a smirk. "I told you that Taiketsu could harness the power of the elements. You really should have listened to me boy."
"You are correct," Karanosuke acknowledged. "I won't make that mistake again."
Karanosuke swung his energy whip and used it to slash at Yasunori. The ice demon used the blade of his sword to block the energy whip but was unable to attack because he had to focus all his attention of blocking. Karanosuke twirled the whip and slashed at the demon's head. Yasunori attempted to dodge however the energy whip made contact this time. All the demon's attempt at dodging did was to make the whip miss it's intended target. The energy whip sliced into the flesh of the demon's neck.
The demon screamed in pain and grabbed his wound.
"Nice shot," Kyo cheered.
"Indeed," Yasunori said, raising his blade again. "Now I shall return the favor."
Yasunori swung the blade of his sword, slicing into the flesh of Karanosuke's upper arm. And as the blade made contact, Karanosuke cried out as a bolt of lightening shot from the end of the sword and coursed through his body. Karanosuke dropped to one knee, clutching the wound on his arm which was smoking.
"I'm impressed demon boy," Yasunori said. "I expected that blow to kill you."
"You should have made that blow fatal," Karanosuke said in a low voice. "That mistake shall come back to haunt you."
"You will die now demon boy!" Yasunori cried out.
He swung the sword, releasing a tornado. The tornado swirled violently and headed straight toward Karanosuke.
Karanosuke twirled his energy whip in a circle around him, and when the tornado struck the energy whip deflected the fierce winds. The tornado passed over Karanosuke without causing so much as a scratch and then disappeared. As the tornado dissipated, Karanosuke ran toward his opponent and used his claws to stab the demon through the heart.
The ice demon cried out in pain and stared down at the claws that pierced his chest. "But how. . ."
"That's easy," Karanosuke said. 'You were outclassed."
Karanosuke tore his claws from the demon's chest and Yasunori dropped to the ground. Blood gushed from the wound on the demon's chest for a few moments and then abruptly stopped.
Karanosuke bent down and picked up the sword Taiketsu, which Yasunori had dropped when his heart was pierced. As soon as Karanosuke picked up the sword, Taiketsu became surrounded by a strange blue aura. The boy held the sword and examined it with a scrutinizing gaze. "I wonder if this sword's really as great as that ice demon said it was."
"Wow," Kyo said, staring at the sword. "Check out the sword's aura. It wasn't like that when the demon was wielding it. It must have something to do with your touch. That sword is so cool."
"Hmph," Karanosuke said, sheathing the sword and tying the sheath to his sash. "We shall see. Come and we shall return to the others."
Kyo nodded and the two boys began the journey back to the river where they had left Suichi and the girls. When they arrived Suichi, Kira and Kisa ran up to them.
"Did you find anything?" Suichi asked.
"Yes," Kyo said. "It was a trap."
"A trap?" Kira gasped.
Karanosuke nodded, walking toward the river. He bent down and washed the ice demon's blood from his claws, enjoying the feel of the icy water on his hands. "An ice demon lured us to a cave where he's been trapped for two hundred years."
"So what happened?" Kisa wanted to know.
"Karanosuke broke the barrier that prevented the demon from leaving the cave," Kyo told the others. "And then the two of them fought. The ice demon, Yasunori said that Karanosuke could have his sword, the sword of the elements, if he could defeat him in battle. Karanosuke accepted the challenge and utterly annihilated the demon. That's how he got this really cool sword."
"Show us," the group demanded.
Karanosuke unsheathed his sword and the blade was once again enveloped by a blue aura.
"That sword doesn't look so cool," Suichi said.
"Don't rely on the outward appearance of it," Kyo said. "Show him what it can do Karanosuke."
Karanosuke nodded and pointed the blade at a nearby tree. Lightening shot from the blade and struck the tree. The bolt of lightening knocked a giant branch from the tree and caused it to burst into flames.
"Wow," Suichi breathed. "I take back what I said. That sword is cool."
Although the other children had been amazed at the fact that Karanosuke had defeated the ice demon when they returned to the village and told Inuyasha and Kagome what had happened they were less than happy.
"You little idiots!" Inuyasha burst out. "You could have been killed."
"But we weren't," Kyo said.
"That's beside the point," Inuyasha said, his voice lowered some.
"No," Karanosuke said calmly. "That is the point."
Inuyasha glared at the boy who was saved from his wrath by Kagome. "Now boys why did you go looking for trouble?"
"Because we were bored," Kyo replied.
This comment made even Kagome come close to losing her temper. "You went in search of a potentially dangerous demon because you were bored?"
"Basically," Karanosuke said.
"Have you both lost your minds?"
Karanosuke made a face. "I don't know why you're all getting so bent out of shape about this. Nothing bad happened to any of us. I defeated the demon and we all came back safe and sound. End of story."
Inuyasha clenched his fists. "You little. . ."
"Calm down Inuyasha," Kagome said, placing her hand on his arm. "Karan has a point. The demon was defeated and the boys are safe. Besides you have absolutely no right to get angry at them."
"And why's that?" Inuyasha asked.
"Because you've done far worse in your life," Kagome told him.
"Kagome!"
"I speak the truth," Kagome said, unapologetically.
A/N- and thus ends yet another chapter of Karan's story. Hope you enjoyed it, feel free to review and let me know what you thought. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.