A Reason to Live
Chapter Thirteen
Keeping Promises
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
"Damn it Sango," Inuyasha hissed as he slashed his claws through another demon. "Get your head into the fucking battle now!"
"I am," Sango yelled as she launched her massive boomerang at a large ogre demon. "Just worry about yourself." The boomerang hit the intended mark, cutting the massive demon in half instantly.
"I don't need to worry about myself," Inuyasha shouted back. "I have already killed ten demons to your one."
"Just shut up and leave me alone," Sango snapped as she dodged acidic spit from a bat demon that had swooped down towards her. "Hiriakotsu!!!" The attack hit the bat demon from behind, killing it before its body could hit the ground.
"Good form slayer," a feminine voice called from behind Sango, who quickly turned just in time to dodge a large claw that swiped at her. "Really good form."
"Damn it," Sango yelled as she ducked under the returning Hiriakotsu, which slammed into the large demon that had tried to claw her. The Hiriakotsu soon landed on the ground, a few hundred feet in front of Sango. "Show yourself!"
"Well since you don't know how to ask nicely, I guess I could teach you some manners," Princess supplied as she appeared in between Sango and the Hiriakotsu. "So I wonder just how strong you are without your weapon."
"If you want to know that, all you have to do is test me," Sango sneered as she pulled her katana from its sheath. The blade gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting the image of Princess on its surface.
"So you plan on fighting me with that weak weapon," Princess questioned as she reached behind her back, to pull a long bladed sword from behind her back. Unlike Sango's katana, this sword had no curve, and was radiating demonic aura. "You should know that if you really try to fight me with that inferior weapon, I shall kill you."
"Don't think you one just because you got a larger sword," Sango exclaimed, as she rushed at Princess, who slammed her blade into the weaker katana. Sango felt as if her entire arm was on fire from the force of the clash. 'What the hell? How can she be this strong?'
"I warned you slayer," Princess exclaimed as she tried to slash Sango, who performed an extremely agile move to get out of the way of the attack. "Now I will just have to kill you for being so stupid."
Sango continued to dodge thrusts and slashes, but was unable to find an opening to strike with her own katana. 'Damn she is good,' Sango thought as she was forced to block another attack. The force sent Sango sprawling backwards, but Sango was able to quickly get back to her feet just in time to dodge yet another slash. 'I have to find some sort of opening soon, or she is going to end up getting me with that blade.'
"Come on Slayer, I figured you would give me some sort of a challenge," Princess supplied as she stopped her onslaught to taunt the proud Sango.
"You never shut up do you," Sango exclaimed. Quickly she pulled a hidden dagger from a compartment in her suit, and threw it at Princess, who was able to use her sword to block the attack. When Princess looked back at Sango, she could see Sango rushing towards the Hiriakotsu.
"Clever little bitch," Princess snorted as she picked the dagger up from the ground, and flung it in Sango's direction, hitting the slayer in the right shoulder. Blood began to flow down Sango's outfit as she fell to her knees in pain. "You should know better then to turn your back on your opponent."
'Damn it,' Sango yelled in her head. 'I can't move my arm, nor can I feel the katana in my hand. This is not good. She has taken no damage, and I am down to one arm.'
"What's wrong Slayer," Princess asked as she stalked Sango from behind, preparing to land the finishing blow. Quickly Princess lifted the sword above her head, preparing to cleave Sango's head in two. "Say goodbye."
"MOVE SANGO," Bankotsu voiced called loudly, causing Sango to move out of the blades path, before she got to her feet, and pulled the dagger out of her shoulder. 'You have to fight back. Just hold her off long enough for Inuyasha to come and help.'
"Sango are you ok," Kagome's voice called from a sheltered view.
"I am fine Kagome," Sango called out in a raspy voice. "Just make sure that the demons don't overwhelm Inuyasha. I can handle this."
"You are very surprising for a human," Princess smiled. "I expected you to just accept your fate, and die, but I can see you still have some fight left in you."
'Was that really Bankotsu, or am I just imagining things,' Sango questioned herself as she switched her katana to her left hand. "Don't think that one wound is going to be enough to defeat me. I am a lot stronger then you think."
"Well then that just means I get to cut you to ribbons," Princess exclaimed as she smiled even wider. "This is going to be so fun."
"Just shut up already," Sango sneered as she rushed at Princess, who swung her larger blade at Sango. Sango was able to roll underneath of the attack, and landed a quick slash to the exposed back of Princess. Without even flinching, Princess spun around, and tried to slash Sango, who once again rolled under the attack, before backing away from the now fuming Princess.
"Nice try Slayer, but I am not your ordinary demon," Princess exclaimed as a light blue glow surrounded her body. After a few seconds, the wound on her back was completely healed.
"Damn it," Sango said as she gripped the handle of her katana a little harder. "I will just have to kill you with one blow."
Suddenly Princess began to laugh loudly at Sango's statement. "You kill me with one blow," Princess laughed even harder. "You are a riot Slayer."
"Sango back down," Inuyasha's voice called from the middle of a hoard of demons. "You are too injured to keep fighting her."
"Just worry about yourself Inuyasha," Sango yelled at the half-demon. "You deal with those demons, I will deal with her."
"Sango just fucking listen to me for once," Inuyasha yelled as she unleashed the Wind Scar, killing almost all of the demons that had been surrounding him.
"Once you finish with those demons, I will let you have a crack at her, but for now, she is mine," Sango supplied as she rushed at Princess once again. This time she tried to jump over the demon, who simply grabbed hold of Sango sash around her waist, and yanked her out of the air. Sango landed with a loud thud, causing the air to rush from her lungs.
"Those little tricks of yours won't work on me Slayer," Princess exclaimed as she planted her foot on Sango's chest before adding a little bit of pressure. The force caused Sango to yell in pain, and soon Princess lifted her foot up, only to slam it back down on Sango's midsection. "Come on Slayer scream for me! Beg for mercy!"
"No," Sango exclaimed between gasps. Before she could regain her breathe, Princess stomped on Sango's chest again, causing Sango to yell in pain again. Blood began to leak from Sango's mouth, and a sick grin spread over Princess' face.
"Does it hurt Slayer," Princess taunted as she lifted her foot off of Sango's chest, only to place it on Sango's head. Pain raced throughout Sango's entire being, causing her to close her eyes, and grit her teeth to keep from screaming out in pain. Now will you scream for me?"
Sango wanted to tell her to shut up, or something of that manner, but the pain was far to intense for Sango to bare, and soon warm tears began to leak from Sango's closed eyes. Finally Sango allowed a few whimpers of pain to escape her lips. "SANGO," Kagome yelled as she prepared to fire a sacred arrow, but was cut off by a demon. Firing the sacred arrow, Kagome purified the demon, causing it to vanish from existence. "Get the hell off of Sango, or the next arrow will be for you!"
"You talk a tough game little girl, but I could kill you before you are able to pull out your next arrow," Princess smirked.
"Damn it," Inuyasha cursed as he cut through another demon. "Get the hell off of Sango and fight me you bitch."
"You would like that wouldn't you," Princess supplied as she added more pressure to Sango's head.
"Sango just hold on," Inuyasha yelled as he ripped another demon's head off its shoulders.
"You can't save her. No one can sav...," Princess began to say, but was interrupted by a strong kick to her back.
"What the fuck is going on around here," Bankotsu's voice yelled. "I leave for a little while, and suddenly everyone forgets how to fight."
"Bankotsu," Kagome exclaimed with glee.
"What took you so long," Inuyasha spat as he ripped through another demon.
"Shut up mutt," Bankotsu hissed in anger. "After I deal with this situation, we are going to have a little chat."
"About what," Inuyasha questioned dodging the attack of another demon.
"About you being incapable of protecting a single person," Bankotsu snapped.
"Well you can worry about that after we win this battle," Inuyasha exclaimed. "I hate to say this, but I'm actually glad to see you for once."
"Yeah yeah," Bankotsu sighed. "Don't go getting all emotional on my now dog face."
"Never," Inuyasha grinned as he turned his full attention back to the remaining demons. "WIND SCAR!!!"
"Well if it isn't the little boy from last time," Princess stated as she picked herself up off the ground. "That wasn't very nice of you."
"Shut it whore," Bankotsu sneered as he bent down, and lifted Sango into his arms. "I will deal with you in a few moments, but first I need to clear the battlefield."
"Bankotsu," Sango said in a weak voice, before coughing up blood onto the mercenary's armor. "Is that really you?"
"No," Bankotsu stated. "I'm just a figment of your hyper active imagination. Now I need you to rest for a little while, so I can handle this retarded bitch."
"Be careful," Sango said before she allowed herself to drift into unconsciousness. Quickly Bankotsu walked her over to the area in which Kagome was hidden.
"Welcome back Bankotsu," Kagome exclaimed as she greeted the now frowning mercenary. "You came just in time!"
"No I didn't," Bankotsu supplied in a solemn voice. "I came way to late, and because of that, Sango got hurt. She was no match for that bitch without the Hiriakotsu, and she knew that, but still she tried to fight her because that's just what she does. Damn she is so fucking frustrating. She has no self-preservation skills whatsoever."
"She was just trying to hold her off till Inuyasha could handle the rest of those demons," Kagome said as she bowed her head in shame. "I should have helped her. I just froze up."
"Don't beat yourself up over it," Bankotsu stated. "You did what you could to keep her from killing Sango just now, and that gave me enough time to save her, so you are responsible for saving her life just as much as I am."
"What's with all of the babbling over there," Princess called in a taunting voice. "Are you that scared to fight me that you need to form a plan of attack."
"SHUT UP BITCH," Bankotsu snapped as she stood up to face her. "I will be killing you soon enough."
"Bankotsu, where is your Banryuu," Kagome questioned in concern. "You can't beat her without your Banryuu."
"She is just on in the woods," Bankotsu answered while turning his head to smirk at Kagome. Finally Kagome noticed the two swords sheathed behind Bankotsu's back.
'So he has two new swords as well, but who made them,' Kagome questioned herself. "Don't you need to grab her for this fight?"
"No," Bankotsu supplied, still smirking at Kagome. "I will just call her to me." Reaching his hand out, Bankotsu began to call for Banryuu in his head. Soon the massive sword rushed past Princess, and came to a stop in Bankotsu's outstretched right hand.
"It seems you have learned a few new tricks," Princess stated as she lifted her own blade into an offensive position. "No matter. I will just break your sword in half again."
"Just try it," Bankotsu snapped as lifting the Banryuu over his head as he rushed at Princess. The two swords met in a massive eruption of power, causing Kagome to be knocked off balance by the shock wave.
"Impressive little boy," Princess snapped as she pressed against her sword, trying to knock Bankotsu out of his stance. "But you should never mess with a detachment of Naraku.."
"And you should shut the fuck up," Bankotsu sneered as he released Banryuu with his left first, and punched her with the freed hand. The blow knocked Princess back a few feet, but she was able to keep her sword lifted enough so it was still in a defensive position. "Unlike Sango, I will cheat just as much, if not more then, you."
"You little prick, you are going to pay for that," Princess yelled as she tried to slice Bankotsu, who swatted her sword away with the Banryuu before slamming his right foot into her midsection.
"Oh come on now," Bankotsu supplied. "Aren't you going to take me seriously."
"Shut up," Princess snapped as she swung her sword at the mercenary, who was able to dodge the blow, before he swung his larger sword at the Princess, who was able to duck under the attack. Quickly Princess thrust her sword at Bankotsu, who spun his body along the swords flat edge, before slamming his elbow into Princess' shocked and exposed face. Light trickles of blood began to flow from the detachment's broken nose. "You bastard, I am going to kill you!"
Bankotsu jumped away from the now fuming reincarnation of Naraku, giving her a mocking smirk. "Don't tell me that you don't want to play anymore," Bankotsu laughed as he stood tall, the Banryuu resting on his shoulder. "I haven't even begun to warm up."
"Fuck you," Princess snapped as she was about to rush at Bankotsu, only to have the Banryuu sent flying at her. The Banryuu impaled the pale skinned reincarnation, and soon pinned her to a nearby tree. Blood began to rush from the wound in her chest, and from her mouth. "Damn you." She tried pulling the massive blade out of her chest, but was unable to budge the sword.
"You idiot," Bankotsu laughed in amusement. "So tell me, was it worth it? Was it worth having a little bit of fun, compared to losing your life for it?"
"You can't kill me," Princess exclaimed. "This wound is not enough to kill me. Once you remove this sword, I will simply kill you."
"Who said I had to remove Banryuu," Bankotsu laughed again. "I will just use my new Naginata to end you." Reaching behind his back, Bankotsu pulled both swords from their sheaths. Quickly he interlocked the hilts of the swords, forming the Naginata.
"You bastard," Princess exclaimed as she struggled to pull the massive sword from her body. "I won't allow you defeat me."
"Struggle all you want, it won't save you," Bankotsu taunted. "You see, no one but me can hold onto the sword. So it is time to die. Any last words?"
"Go fuck yourself," Princess screamed as she continued to struggle against the sword.
"Are you going to just play with her, or are you going to kill her," Jakotsu snapped in Bankotsu's mind. "I want to taste some blood, and soon."
"Patience Jakotsu," Bankotsu whispered. "I am going to enjoy this." Princess still continued to struggle as Bankotsu lowered her gaze to look into her now fear-filled eyes.
"You are a true monster," Princess stated in a meek voice. The sound of her voice caused Bankotsu to laugh lightly. It was amazing to him how someone could be so confident, until they were about to die, and then they wanted to beg for mercy, and they wanted to call him the monster. This was exactly why he killed so many people. Most people would kill others without mercy, and the moment they were about to get killed, that person became a monster to them. "Stay away from me!!!"
"Go to hell," Bankotsu exclaimed as he used the new Naginata to behead the reincarnation of Naraku. Before her head could hit the ground, her head and body vanished into thin air. "We won't be hearing from her ever again."
"Wow," Kagome exclaimed as she looked at the mercenary. "Bankotsu has become so much stronger then last time he was traveling with them. Where has he been, and what did he do?"
"Damn it," Inuyasha exclaimed as he came to a rest next to Kagome. "Bankotsu has become stronger then he was before, but I feel a strange presence coming from that other weapon of his. It feels just like the other Band of Seven members."
"What do you mean," Kagome asked as she cradled Sango's unconscious form to her body.
"The swords are emanating a presence, and it feels like Jakotsu and another member of the Band of Seven," Inuyasha explained.
"Well does that mean he is going to go back to being our enemy," Kagome questioned, a look of hurt in her eyes.
"I hope not," Inuyasha supplied. "He knows a lot of our weaknesses, and with his new found powers, he would be a real problem."
A/N: Sorry for the wait, but things have been crazy. In fact, I skipped doing some homework to work on this chapter. Hopefully I will be able to put out another chapter tomorrow. If not then I'm sorry, and to all of my faithful reviewers, thank you all for being so kind, and I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Look for a little bit of fluff in the next chapter, but just a little bit.