A Reason to Live
Chapter Four
Watchful Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
It had been a week since Sango had her confrontation with Bankotsu, and since that day, she felt as is she was being watched. 'I wonder if he is truly watching me, or if I am just becoming paranoid like Inuyasha,' Sango thought as she walked in silence with the rest of the group. The more she thought about it, she came to the conclusion that no Bankotsu was not following her and the others.
"Sango is being awfully quiet," Kagome whispered to the half-demon walking right beside her.
"Perhaps you should take after her a little bit," Inuyasha supplied.
"SIT BOY," Kagome yelled, snapping Sango out of her musings. "What a jerk!"
"Damn it Kagome," Inuyasha wailed as he got to his feet. "I wish you would stop doing that shit to me."
"I would if you would stop being such a jerk," Kagome sneered, turning her back on the still recovering half-demon. "Wait I sense a jewel shard!"
"And I am sensing a strong demonic aura," Miroku supplied as he dropped into a defensive fighting stance.
"That couldn't be little old me you are sensing, could it," a feminine voice called from above the group. Floating on a large white feather, was the incarnation of Naraku, Kagura, the wind sorceress.
"What are you doing here," Inuyasha snarled as he drew Tetsusaiga from its sheath. Sango in turn, unstrapped Hiriakotsu from her shoulder, and prepared to fling it at the wind sorceress.
"I am here to give you a warning from Naraku," Kagura supplied in a bored voice. "Naraku wants you all to know that he will not have mercy on any of you, nor will he hesitate to kill those that you care about. He hopes that you enjoyed the last battle, and wants all of you to think back to the pain you all felt during the last battle. Especially you 'Demon Slay...'"
Suddenly Kagura was hit in the back by a massive blade, causing her to fly off of the feather. "Wait a damn minute," Inuyasha snapped. "That is the Banryuu. That means..."
"That's right Inuyasha," Bankotsu's voice called out. The origin of the voice was unknown, because it sounded like it was coming from all around them. "I have come back to the world of the living once more, and this time, I plan on getting what is mine."
"And what is that," Inuyasha sneered in defiance. "Another ass kicking!"
"No stupid," Bankotsu replied as he suddenly appeared in front of Inuyasha. "I plan on getting my revenge."
"Bankotsu stop," Sango called out, gaining the attention of Inuyasha, and the rest of the gang. "You promised you would not fight Inuyasha."
"And I haven't," Bankotsu smirked, causing Inuyasha's anger to boil over. If there was one thing that the half demon hated about the mercenary, it was that damned smirk. It just oozed arrogance, and that bothered Inuyasha, especially considering, Inuyasha had defeated him once already. "I have not touched a single hair on the half demon's head." Quickly, Inuyasha slammed his right fist into Bankotsu's face, causing the mercenary to stumble backwards.
"Be careful who you try to intimidate," Inuyasha snarled, bearing his fangs at Bankotsu.
"You shouldn't have done that," Bankotsu supplied while rubbing his cheek, where Inuyasha's fist had connected.
"And why is that," Inuyasha questioned smugly.
"Never turn your back on an opponent," Kagura hissed as she attempted to stand up with Banryuu through her midsection.
"I would stop struggling if I were you," Bankotsu stated, still not taking his intense blue eyes off of Inuyasha. Ignoring the mercenary, Kagura got to her feet, only to have the full weight of Banryuu crush down upon her, shattering the bones in her legs. "I warned you." The blood curling sheik that erupted from Kagura caused all of Inuyasha's group to wince.
"How did you do that," Kagura asked, pain lacing her every word. "I am a demon, and I should be able to lift this blade with no problem."
"There is a reason that Banryuu is my companion," Bankotsu replied as he finally turned to face the fallen wind sorceress. "That is because no other creature on this planet could ever hope to lift her by themselves. I am the only one that Banryuu will allow to wield her." Slowly, Bankotsu made his way towards Kagura, and grabbed the hilt of Banryuu. With a sudden jerk, Bankotsu pulled Banryuu out of Kagura's body, staining the ground with her blood. "Now bitch, you are going to tell me where Naraku is, or I am going to gut you right here and now."
"Do your worst," Kagura hissed.
"Fine by me," Bankotsu replied as he lowered himself enough to look Kagura in her crimson eyes. "You might want to get the priestess out of here before I begin with her."
"Why is that," Inuyasha asked, not liking the implication lacing Bankotsu's voice. "What do you plan to do to her?"
"You forget," Bankotsu began in a cold tone. "I am a mercenary. I know how to make people talk, including demons."
"I see you have risen again," a feminine voice called from a nearby wooded area. "You are an interesting person, Bankotsu."
"Wait, that is the voice of the dead priestess," Bankotsu said as he scratched the back of his head. "So Naraku didn't kill you yet."
"I could ask you the same," Kikyo supplied as she stepped out of the wooded area, and onto the open dirt road. The light blue soul collectors were swirling around her person, as she stepped closer to the mercenary. "And yet here you stand before me. How is that, considering you have no jewel shard to sustain your life?"
"Aren't you just full of questions," Bankotsu answered. "Well to be honest, I have no clue how I came back, but I am."
"So what is your purpose this time," Kikyo questioned as she stared deep into Bankotsu's intense blue eyes.
"I'm going to kill Naraku," Bankotsu replied as he stuck Banryuu tip first into the ground.
"Kikyo, step away from him," Inuyasha exclaimed. "He will kill you if you are not careful."
"You worry to much Inuyasha," Kikyo supplied, without turning to look at the half-demon. "He won't harm me."
"Not yet I won't," Bankotsu responded. "But if you get in my way priestess, I will lay you to rest again." Sensing that all of the attention was diverted off of her, Kagura summoned her feather, which scooped her trembling form onto it. Quickly a gust of wind sent the feather flying away from the group of people still on the road. "Well there goes my only lead to Naraku."
"You are not ready to fight Naraku," Kikyo stated. "While you may be strong right now, you have nothing to fight for, except revenge. While that may be enough to defeat some enemies, it won't be near enough to fight Naraku."
"What the hell are you blabbering about priestess," Bankotsu sneered, his temperature boiling over the loss of his only lead.
"Move Kikyo," Inuyasha snapped as he stepped between Kikyo, and the still fuming Bankotsu. "We have some unfinished business."
"Inuyasha no," Sango yelled out, causing all eyes to turn to her, except for Bankotsu's. "He has not done anything to us, so why should we fight him?"
"Because it is only a matter of time before he does," Inuyasha replied. 'What has gotten into Sango? She knows how dangerous he is. He can't be left to roam this world.'
"Inuyasha, please don't attack him," Sango pleaded.
"And why the hell shouldn't I," Inuyasha snarled.
"Because I promised him I wouldn't let you," Sango said in a meek voice.
Blood stained the ground all around him. His black boots were now stained with the crimson liquid of life. The cloak that concealed most of his body was swaying lightly in the gentle breeze. He could still hear the scurrying of the few people he had allowed to live. It did not matter how fast they ran, because he would kill them soon enough. "Run, run, as fast as you can," the cloaked stranger yelled into the air. "Run before you lose your life."
"Everyone run for it," a young man exclaimed as he drew his sword from his belt. "I shall hold him off for as long as I can." Hearing the young man's claim, the cloaked stranger allowed a loud laugh to escape his mouth.
"How brave of you. Brave, but foolish none the less," the stranger's voice chided. "And for your foolishness, you are going to die a slow painfully death."
"We will see," the youth shouted as he rushed at the stranger. The young man's sword slashed at the stranger, but he was unable to land any blows. Hell, he was not even coming close to landing anything. "I won't allow you to kill off this entire village."
"Is that so," the stranger asked before reaching his hand into his cloak, and pulling out his own sword. The blade was a deep crimson color, and not from old blood stains, and the hilt was black with crimson wrapping. A small, crescent moon formed the end of the hilt, with a deep crimson chain hanging from one end of the crescent moon. "Allow me to introduce you to Soukatsui!!!"
As the young man swung his sword at the Soukatsui, the other sword shattered upon contact, leaving the young man with only the guard and hilt. "How is that possible," the young man questioned.
"It is a measure of pure strength," the stranger replied, amusement evident in his voice. "You are far to weak to even scratch me, and since you are so weak, so is any sword you may use. Now you are going to suffer the consequences for attacking Soukatsui with such a feeble weapon. Tiger Lightening Cannon!!!"
A/N: Well sorry for it seeming so crappy. I think that this is a step down from the earlier chapters, and I am sorry about that. I think part of it is that our air conditioner is broken, and it is so unforgivably hot in the house right now. I'm turning into a sweating pig, but that's besides the point. Ok, thank you again to everyone who has reviewed the story so far, and too my faithful followers, who have reviewed each chapter, thank you so so so much. You are what is making me keep this pace I am on. So once again, thank you all!!! Also in the next chapter, a few questions will be answered, including the age difference between Bankotsu and Hakai. So kittyb78, this next chapter is for you!!! And if this chapter is really terrible, just let me know, and I promise to rewrite it. Sorry again.