Chapter 30 - Gloom
Before fighting, Haru had called out, "Join us or perish."
At first the men had been confused. "We're on the same side."
They understood when Haru and his men attacked though. They understood that they were no longer on the same side and that they didn't stand a chance. Haru's men had larger, more powerful mounts and stronger weapons. One by one, as the men watched their companions get cut down to nothing, they decided that it was best to join Haru.
It had taken a while, but finally there were only a few men left. One of which was the other human squad leader.
"Masaru! Give it up. There's no way that you could win against all of us."
The rest of the men were quickly picked off until only the elderly Masaru was left. Being a squad leader, he was equipped properly and he had been given a powerful steed.
"Don't you see Masaru? You're fighting for the wrong reasons! Naraku is not a good man. He is a devious fiend. He is here in pursuit of a woman," Haru cried, desperately trying to get the man to join him.
"That doesn't matter!" Masaru barked, "I owe my life to Naraku. His intentions are none of my business. I will repay my debt even if it costs me my life."
"But—"
"Enough jabber! Come at me," yanking his horse's reins, Masaru galloped confidently toward Haru.
Before Haru could react, Ryu, one of his men kicked his horse into action, and the two sped toward each other with their weapons pointed at each other's throats. While Ryu pointed his broadsword, Masaru directed a long, sharp spear. Masaru's weapon would reach Ryu long before his weapon even came within range of Masaru.
Haru and the other men watched the unfair joust in horror.
"Quick! Someone shoot him down!" Haru screamed, seeing that Ryu didn't stand much chance against the experienced Masaru. Every archer in the group fumbled for their arrows and aimed quickly. "Shoot! What're you waiting for?"
"Arrrghh!" A loud cry and a piercing whinny could be heard over the sound of war behind the men.
Ryu lie in a heap on the group to one side, his horse was still running, frightened by the sudden scream and the flurry of arrows that it had narrowly dodged. Masaru frowned down at his mount. The horse was knelt down, several arrows sticking out of its body and his own.
"Feh. Stupid horse," Masaru muttered. He leapt off the horse and began walking toward Ryu.
"Fire!" Haru cried.
Another volley of arrows flew at Masaru, this time piercing his armour and like his horse, bringing him to his knees.
"Deal with him," Haru ordered, riding hurriedly over to Ryu.
His men quickly surrounded Masaru and ended his misery.
"Ryu! Ryu! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! Are you okay?" Haru carefully pulled off Ryu's helmet and his own.
Ryu's eyes were distant. It was then that Haru noticed that Masaru's spear was jutting out of the man's chest; directly below is heart. Haru's eyes widened when he saw the growing pool of red by his friend's side. "Haru?" came a far-away voice.
"Yes Ryu? What is it my friend?" Haru felt a slight prickle behind his eyes; for he'd known Ryu all his life. It didn't seem right for him to die like this. It was all his fault. His fault for coming up with this stupid plan. Maybe if he'd listened to Naraku—
"Don't you quit on me, Haru… She wouldn't want you to fight for Naraku…"
Ryu knew him too well, "Ryu…" Haru clasped the man's hand to his chest and clamped his eyes shut, willing himself to stay strong.
"Hitomi would be proud of you…" with every word Ryu's voice faded more and more until finally, Haru felt his hand go limp in his grasp.
Haru looked down at his fallen comrade and felt water pooling in his eyes. He squeezed his hand before setting it down by his side and closing the man's eyes.
With a grim look on his face, Haru put his helmet back on and mounted his horse again.
Ryu will not have died in vain.
Lady Aki swung her newly acquired Dao swords around her in dangerous patterns; cutting down any demon who dared approach her. She closed her eyes for a second and was surprised when her swords met resistance. Her eyes sprung open and she was greeted by the sight of a young male swordsman. His body was lean and muscular, he carried swords identical to the ones she had.
"Hello," she smiled.
The boy's sharp blue eyes narrowed angrily, "You killed Miu!"
"Oh, are you dear Miu's brother?"
The boy growled and swung his swords expertly through Aki's defences.
She dodged just in time, "I'll take that as a yes. What's your name?"
"It doesn't matter!" the boy yelled, swinging again.
Aki's smile never left her face as she swung to push the boy backwards. She extended her foot to trip him but he noticed it and leapt out of the way. Aki's eyebrow lifted a little in amusement, "Now I really must know. Do tell me."
His blue eyes darkened, "Do not take me lightly, My Lady." He ran at her; his face set in harsh determination.
Aki dodged neatly and sensing the movements of his body, moved to block his attack, "All I asked was your name, no need to get so upset."
"And what are you going to do with that? You're going to kill me anyways."
Aki frowned, "Look here, I didn't want to kill your sister. She brought it on herself." Staring into his angry, blue eyes Aki froze when the boy disappeared. She blinked and inhaled sharply when she felt his body right behind her. She felt a strong arm close around her waist and a thin blade rest against her neck.
"Masato," he whispered in her ear.
Aki could feel the muscles in Masato's arms ripple. He was going to slit her throat. Lightning fast, she dropped her sword and pulled a kunai out of a small strapped-on compartment against her leg. She thrust the kunai into his leg and used his reaction time to grab the sword from against her throat. She twisted to escape his grasp but Masato's arm held fast against her waist. His free arm reached for the kunai in his leg. Aki elbowed him sharply and was able to escape his iron grip.
Aki stood in front of the boy and regarded him with a slight smile, "Not bad Masato."
Masato glared at the woman, "Why don't you just kill me? What do you want?"
Aki's eyes softened, "How old are you Masato?"
"Eighteen."
Swinging at some of the surrounding demons, Aki asked, "Masato… how is it that you came to work for such a vile creature?"
Masato's head snapped up at the insult, he pulled the kunai from his leg and launched it at its owner. He followed, with both swords pointed. "I'm sure that Miu already answered that."
The demoness dodged the kunai and parried his attacks. "Well then I suppose there's no use trying to convince you." Quicker than his eye could follow, Lady Aki knelt down and sweeping her arm in a wide arc, pulled her blade up and through his body. Her other sword cut deeply into his chest and she murmured, "I'm sorry Masato," before plunging the blade deep into the boy's heart.
Releasing the swords, she grabbed his from his limp hands and leapt into the crowd of enemy demons.
The girls dodged in either directions and got into fighting stances.
"We're not afraid of you," Kiome said, scowling.
The man laughed, "You should be."
Kiara stared at him and flinched when he met her gaze.
"Now which one of you two wants to die first?"
"The only one that's going to die, is you," Kiara retorted.
In practiced unison, the girls sped toward him. Leaping from this side to the next, the girls created a whirlwind of red around him, striking every few seconds.
The samurai closed his eyes and struck out. The flat side of his Katana hit Kiome's rib cage.
Kiara saw the man move to attack her but she intervened and swiped at him as he was turning his back. The man moved at the last second, escaping with nothing but a shallow cut on his thigh.
Kiome recovered quickly and twirling on her side swung her sword in his direction. Seeing her sister move behind him, she pushed her sword further and caused him to leap back to dodge. He jumped right into Kiara. Kiara had unsheathed a small dagger and thrust it into his thick shoulder muscle. She kept her hold on it and pulled it out before he could get a chance to react, but she wasn't quick enough. As she was sheathing it the man spun and his sword traced the existing cut on her stomach.
Kiome watched in horror as her sister was injured and did not react fast enough when the samurai turned on her. He swung the katana low and managed to scratch her right leg. Scowling, she lifted her left leg high and landed a heavy kick on his jaw.
Kiara had recovered and grasping her stomach with one hand, threw a handful of poisonous darts at the man. They pierced his side and the girl rushed to her sister's side. As they watched, his eyes glowed red and something loomed up behind them. It was a wall of demons, whipping around, the sisters fought with them.
Something sharp whizzed past Kiome's cheek, slicing it cleanly. Eyes wide, she reached up and touched her cheek, a thin line of blood had appeared. Kiome turned and stood back to back with her sister.
They were surrounded. A towering wall of demons formed a circle around them. There was no way out.
As the girls watched in horror, the crowd parted to let in the samurai.
They gulped as the man got into a fighting stance.
Scar winced and his hands loosened their grip on the demoness. Her skin had begun to glow slightly and he wasn't being protected by the shield anymore.
Jin smirked when she noticed Scar's grip loosen. She formed a blade out of her purification energy and grabbing a hold of Scar, vaulted behind him and held the dagger to his throat.
Eye Patch growled at him, "You're absolutely worthless."
Scar struggled against Jin's slight body but froze when he felt her purification powers burn his skin.
Jin was surprised when Scar didn't respond to his comrade's insult. Perhaps he had made the same mistake once before.
Eye Patch took an angry step forward and Jin tightened her hold on Scar's neck, "Stay back," she warned.
Eye Patch watched her press the dagger ever closer to Scar's neck and cackled, "Do it."
Jin eyed him as he took another step, "Give me your shield or I'll kill him."
Eye Patch glanced briefly at Scar as he walked ever closer. His eyes hardened. He lifted his shield and lowered his head; as if in surrender. Jin's hands tightened suspiciously on the man in her arms.
A metre away, Eye Patch raised his head and uttering a battle cry, swiped his shield in Jin's direction.
Jin gasped and jumped back, leaving a thin but deep scratch on the man's neck. She leapt to one side to avoid Eye Patch's attack. A safe distance away, she stopped and stared. Eye Patch hadn't been aiming for her. The edge of his shield had cut a deep wound into Scar's abdomen. His hand was raised to his neck while the other touched his stomach. Scar fell to his knees and gazed at Eye Patch wondrously.
"You're a good-for-nothing soldier. I don't know why Dad always preferred you," Eye Patch growled at his brother.
Jin winced when the latter kicked his fallen brother and sent his body sprawling. He walked over to it and snarled, "You got what you deserved."
Jin shook herself out of her daze and noticed that she had a clear view of the seals on the inside of the shield. Pulling out a small shuriken, Jin launched it at the shield watching as it neatly sliced the seals in two.
Feeling around with her purification powers, she felt the presence of the barrier fade away.
The demoness smiled and closed her eyes. Pressing her hands together, she sent a wave of purification energy in the direction of the man.
Feeling the slight burn of the pure energy, Eye Patch whipped around and held the shield up to protect himself. His victorious grin died away when he looked down to see the seal was broken.
Hearing the hollow thud of the shield hitting the ground, Jin opened her eyes to find that the bodies of both men were gone. They'd been purified. Shaking her head with disapproval at Eye Patch's jealousy, she continued fighting.
Night had fallen.
Kagome had gotten into a pattern. It felt like a dance; turning, ducking, striking, dodging …
As of yet, she hadn't gotten a single scratch. She was proud of herself. A small grin escaped her control and painted itself on her face. No sooner than it had did she hear a low chuckle. A shiver ran up her spine and she stopped dead in her tracks.
"Why'd you stop? I was enjoying watching you."
Kagome's wide eyes scanned the crowd of demons. "Who's there?" To her surprise, she stood in the middle of a wide circle; at least five metres in radius. When had that happened? Kagome's heart raced as she took a step in one direction toward the dark cloud of red-eyed demons. To her relief, nothing happened. Feeling a little braver, she began inching toward the edge of the circle. Gulping, Kagome broke into a sprint and ran toward the circumference of the circle.
A tentacle whipped out of the crowd and slapped Kagome. Kagome cried out. Her body landed hard on the ground and she grimaced. Touching her cheek, she found a shallow cut.
"Where do you think you're going?" the voice spoke again. This time it was sickeningly familiar.
The circle closed in on Kagome and she stared up in fear at the dark shadows. They were dotted with red eyes.
Kagome's heart sank when she realized what was going on.
Naraku had found her.
A/N) Damn Lady Aki's a badass! I think I might have disposed of some of the squad leaders a little quickly ... whoops.
Review :)