DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.

Author's note: Still trying to get on top of my health issues (unfortunately, migraines and insomnia are a very bad combination). A big thank you to everyone who's stuck with this story so far.


Chapter 31

Shippou's eyes narrowed. His flames flared higher as he weighed up Mayu's burns and bruises. His mouth twisted into a snarl. His shoulders were still shaking.

"Touch them again and I'll-"

Hiten flicked his fingers towards him. Lightning streaked across the cringed away with a yelp.

Hiten snorted. "Oh?" He took a step towards Kagome. Lightning danced between his fingers. "Please. Do enlighten me."

Shippou raised his eyes. He was still quivering. "You've got no idea what you're playing with."

"And what might that be?" Hiten replied. A smirk tugged at his mouth.

"You don't even-" Shippou almost choked on his disgust. "Just - just look at him!"

He raised a shaking hand to Manten. Manten answered him with a scowl. Flames sprang to his fists.

Hiten shook his head. His smirk turned sour. "I'm not playing games with you, fox."

"Games?" Shippou's voice rose to a scream. "Y-you think this is a game? After what you-"

"I know what I'm doing." Hiten took another step. The air began to sizzle.

Shippou's tail quivered with fury. His hands shook with his voice. "They won't let you-"

"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure of that." Hiten couldn't keep his smile from his face.

Shippou's frown tightened. "What are you-"

"How about you see for yourself?" He waved his hand towards the gate.

"Don't." Kagome's voice trembled on the word."Shippou, please-"

Shippou's eyes were already on the gate. Her voice dropped with his jaw. His flames dwindled as the sight sank in.

"No... "

The spirits answered him with a wail. Their claws scrabbled at the air as they hurled themselves against the barrier. The desperation in their eyes was was rooted like a statue.

"No way... "

"Long time no see, huh?" Hiten's grin was disgusting.

Shippou stared in silence. He couldn't summon so much as a flicker. His mouth trembled with his hands. His eyes were already broken.

Hiten gave a mirthless laugh. Manten joined him with a giggle. Shippou kept on staring. His tail was starting to shake again.

"Just like the Mutt, huh? All bark and no-"

"You... " Shippou's voice cracked with despair. His hands flared with fury. His tail bristled as he bared his teeth and claws."Y-you bastards! You'll-"

Manten met his charge with a flaming fist. He swatted Shippou into the wall. He plummeted to the ground with a yelp.

Manten let out another giggle. "Is that all-"

Shippou raised his head with a snarl. He scrambled to all fours and broke into a charge. He sprang at Manten in a blaze of blue. Manten blasted him away with a shriek.

"Shippou!"

Shippou caught himself in midair with a gasp. He hurled himself back at Manten in another blaze. Manten was caught wide open. Shippou's blazing claws tore across his snout.

Manten's hands flew to his face. A firebolt caught him in the knee. He glared down at Mayu through his fingers. She met him with another punch to the gut. He yelped in outrage.

"H-Hiten!"

Hiten strode forwards with a scoff. He shot down Shippou with a single bolt. He dropped straight to the lay cowering before him, his tiny chest heaving with fury.

"Shippou!"

"I see you don't do hints." Hiten raised his hand. Lightning played around his fingertips. He glared down at Mayu with blazing eyes.

Mayu didn't answer. She scurried to Shippou's side. Kagome gasped as she reached for his shoulder.

"Don't, Mayu!"

"But-"

Her voice broke into a sob. She raised her tearful eyes to Kagome. She had no answers for her.

"Tch. Even the Mutt put up a better fight," Hiten scoffed. He surveyed Mayu's tears with utter contempt. "So, what'll it be, brat? Quick and easy? Or would you prefer-"

A low roar rose beneath him. Hiten flinched as light flared into his face. His sparks fizzled out in an instant. He gaped down at Inuyasha.

"What the-"

A ring of flames burst from below him. Hiten leapt aside with a hiss.

"Shit!"

Mayu ducked. The metalbender did likewise. Shippou lay flat. Manten fell back shrieking. Kagome could only press herself to the wall. Her eyes stung with light. She shook her head to clear them. The sight was still enough to make her blink.

Inuyasha crouched on one knee with flames licking around his boots. His eyes were still hazy. His chest was still heaving. His wounds were barely beginning to heal. The heat was still enough to make them had bought him all the time he needed.

He staggered to his feet awash with flames. Hiten tensed. The metalbender stood open-mouthed. No one made another move.

"H-how?" Mayu demanded.

Kagome shook her head. The boy just kept on 's jaw was at his toes. Even Hiten backed away.

"No. Fucking. Way."

Inuyasha raised his head with a cough. His face was ashen. His stance was shaky. His eyes were searing. They locked straight on to Hiten.

"Don't... you... "

"Oh for-"

Hiten hurled his fury into a massive blast. Inuyasha sprang away with impossible grace. He landed in a fire burst that sent the brothers scurrying.

"H-Hiten!"

"Dumbass! Don't just-"

Inuyasha answered them with twin slashes of flame. Hiten blocked one with a hiss. Manten threw himself aside with a yelp. Both slashes left their mark.

"Bastard," Hiten growled. He clutched at his left forearm. His sleeve and vambrace were little more than ashes. His stare narrowed as he weighed up his opponent.

Inuyasha stood in a half crouch. Flames still licked along his limbs. A feral light shone in his eyes. One that was all too familiar. Kagome's stomach shivered.

"Inuyasha... "

"Don't." His voice emerged as a growl. He pointed to Hiten with a flaming claw. "Stay-"

Hiten launched himself straight at him. Inuyasha rushed to meet his charge. They collided in a furious blaze. The heat alone was blinding.

Kagome squinted through her tears, fighting for a mere glimpse. The two firebenders were locked together, straining for the barest inch of ground. Manten and the boy crouched frozen in the shadows. Mayu shielded Shippou as best she could. They were on shaky ground at best. She steeled herself for an opening.

Inuyasha's claws sank into Hiten's armour. The young lord held his position with gritted teeth. The air fizzled as he readied himself for another onslaught.

"Don't... touch..."

Inuyasha's voice gave out in a gasp. His footsteps flames were already starting to sputter. She'd have to pick her moment fast.

Hiten curled his lip. His glare narrowed on Inuyasha's shaking legs. "Tch. Pathetic."

"You... " Inuyasha's voice was a mere rasp. "Don't... "

Hiten answered him with a knee to the gut. Inuyasha staggered away and came back swinging. His fist shot past Hiten's face. Hiten flashed him a grin. He took out Inuyasha's legs with a single sweep.

Inuyasha dropped like iron. Hiten had him pinned before he could draw another boot crashed down on Inuyasha's spine. His only response was a dull groan.

"Pathetic," Hiten spat. "Just like your whore of a-"

Inuyasha clawed at the dirt. Flames flickered at his fingertips. "Don't... "

Hiten was ready this time. He stomped down to counter Inuyasha. Flames raged beneath him as he held his blast at bay. Inuyasha could only scream his rage.

"Just fucking die!" Hiten spat.

He kicked Inuyasha aside and raised his arm. Sparks began to play around his fingertips. Kagome's fingers clenched as she struggled for a chance.

"Inuyasha!"

Mayu's scream met her own as she hurled herself forwards. The boy clawed her back. Mayu hurled a punch at his jaw. He ducked it with a gasp.

His grip shattered. Kagome's limbs screamed asshe tore herself free. She stumbled into a charge and threw herself across Inuyasha's back.

Hiten started as though he'd been shot. He pulled his arm wide as she collapsed in front of him. Flames seared past her face. She stared back at him with her stomach in her throat.

"Stop."

Hiten gaped in silence. She drew in another breath before he could reply.

"It's me you want, right?"

Inuyasha groaned. His chest was heaving so hard, it was a wonder he didn't lose what little remained of his shirt."Kagome-"

"You heard me." She met Hiten's stare head on. "You don't need them. Take me."

"Ka... "

"Kagome!"

Her gaze shot to Mayu. Manten towered over her with sparks licking around his fingers. The metalbender had recovered his stance. Hiten was poised to strike. Given the state Inuyasha was in, one brother would be more than enough. He voiced her despair in an agonised growl.

Hiten smirked down at them with grim satisfaction. "So, what'll it be, Mutt? Your shitty hide or your bleeding heart?"

She had no words for him. Neither did Inuyasha. His fists curled as he struggled against his failing strength. His limbs refused to drew back his arm and readied himself for the kill.

Kagome groped for any water she could muster. All she could gather was her own would barely be enough to tickle him. Her hands clawed at the air. There must be more. The water had to come from somewhere.

She clenched her fingers and drew in every last drop she could reach. The ceiling cracked with the strain. The walls began to shake. She threw down her arms and let it break.

Manten turned on her with a snarl. The ceiling gave way just as the lightning left his fingers. He was caught in a deluge of rubble. His scream died as fast as he hit the ground like a lead brick.

"Manten!"

The impact sent Hiten reeling. His sparks sputtered into nothing. He stared at Manten with a scream frozen on his face.

Manten lay motionless on the ground. Mayu and Shippou cowered in his shadow. The metalbender trembled beneath a makeshift shelter. The gate stood stark behind them. The spirits' cries were like a dirge. Her heart was louder still.

Hiten rushed to Manten's side. Inuyasha didn't even try to block his laid his shaking hand on his brother's shoulder. He was as lifeless as the rocks around him.

"M-Manten?" Hiten's voice cracked on his name.

Kagome hadn't left her knees. Her pulse was deafening. She couldn't take her hands from her mouth. This was-

"Manten!" Hiten raised his eyes with his voice. His stare was lethal. "You. Y-You little bi-"

His curse gave way to a yell. Lightning surged down his arms as he circled them for another strike. Her hands flew wide just as the bolt left his fingertips.

"Kagome!"

Inuyasha and Shippou hurled themselves in front of her. Shippou got there with a heartbeat to spare. The bolt fizzled out in a flash of blue.

"Don't. Touch. Her."

Hiten whipped back his fingers in reply. Shippou unleashed another burst. The bolt shot straight past Mayu's face. It found its mark in one of the gate's supporting pillars. The stone split like wood.

"No!" Mayu screamed. "Stop-"

Hiten let out a shaky laugh. His face was split in a terrible grin. Tears were still streaming down his cheeks.

"Stop what?"

He gathered his chi for another strike. The lightning sputtered and cracked between his palms. Inuyasha scrambled towards him with a yell.

"You-"

Hiten's focus broke just as he released his strike. His energy crackled into gate was bathed in a torrent of fire. It was still fierce enough to scorch the stones.

"Stupid!" Inuyasha hurled himself forwards and grabbed Hiten by the slammed him into the wall. Even that couldn't take the grin from his face.

"Shit!" Inuyasha shook him like a snow rat. His whole body was trembling. "Do you even-"

"You," Hiten croaked. His smile didn't leave his lips. "Think I-"

"You bastard! You'll ki-"

"Know that." Hiten's laugh was merciless. "Finished."

"Even the Avatar?"

"Fuck the Avatar," Hiten spat. "And you."He grabbed Inuyasha by the hairand drove his knee into his groin.

Inuyasha released him with a yelp. Hiten shoved him away and hurled himself towards the gate. Shippou threw up another shield of flames. Hiten cut it down with a savage kick. The pillar split with a groan.

"No!"

Mayu flung a useless punch at Hiten's head. He ducked it with a laugh. He surveyed his work with blazing hands and eyes.

"Finish-"

A ragged streak crashed into his back. Hiten was too shocked to even scream. He toppled through the gate with a curse dying in his eyes.


Constructive criticism is very welcome!