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.
Chapter 37
A soft titter drifted down from the canopy. Miroku drew in another breath. His grip tightened on Kagome's tunic. His stare was fixed on the shadows.
"Show yourself."
He received a giggle in reply. A flash of silver shot from the trees. He sprang aside, clutching Kagome to his chest. Two wires raked the ground where she'd laid.
"Shit... "
He spun her behind another tree. Two more wires whistled past them. They wrapped around a low branch. A soft tut came from the canopy. The wires tightened.
The branch was torn clean from the tree.
Kagome winced as the branch hurtled past them. Miroku shielded her with his arm. The wires unfurled and shot back to their owner. The branch crashed to the ground.
Miroku sprang away before the wires could return. He whipped out a massive gust as his feet neared the ground The trees shook like leaves. The metalbender shrieked in fury. Kagome clung to Miroku as the forest raged around them.
He let it die down with a wind dropped in an instant. Kagome lifted her face from his shoulder. His chest was still heaving as he surveyed the fumbled for her waterskin as she fought to steady her breath.
"Did you-"
He hushed her with a finger to her lips. She nodded and stayed still. Miroku's breaths slowed as the debris settled around them. All was stillness.
A faint snap came from overhead. Miroku released his breath in another huge burst. The trees swayed like grass in a gale. Their attacker lost their footing with a shriek. A silhouette dropped from the canopy.
Miroku grabbed Kagome and burst forwards. He bore down on his opponent like a gale. He drew in his breath and readied another blast.
The wind changed like a flipped coin.
A torrent of air slammed into them. Miroku flailed aside. Kagome fell from his grasp. A wire looped around her waist before she hit the ground. She screamed as it yanked her into the canopy.
"Miroku!"
He caught himself with a gasp. He shot towards her as she was drawn upwards. Another blast buffetted him away. He whirled round to face his attacker.
A whistle sounded overhead. Kagome's gaze shot to the figures hovered above her. Each wore a midnight blue parka. The taller of the two flashed them a smile. It was followed by twin jets of air.
Miroku was caught in the slammed straight into the nearest slumped down to earth with a groan.
"Miroku!"
Another wire shot from the shadows. It looped around the tree and bound Miroku's arms to the trunk. A third wire drew tight against his neck. Kagome choked out a cry. It was answered by a laugh.
"Oh my... "
A soft, girlish voice drifted over their heads. Kagome squinted up at the branches. A young woman perched above them with wires glinting from both wrists. What little clothing she wore was solid lips quirked into a vicious smirk.
"What have we here?"
"Kagome... " Miroku's voice strained at her name. "Don't... "
The woman cut him off with a sharp tug. His voice broke off into a strangled cough. Kagome winced. Best keep quiet for now. One wrong move could cost him his head.
"Really," the woman tutted. "You sure kept us waiting."
A faint rustle came from overhead. Kohaku stepped out onto the branch beside Yura. He held his wires taut as he stared down at the captives. His eyes were almost sorry.
"Kohaku... " He turned away before Kagome could catch his gaze. "Why?"
Kohaku didn't answer. The woman shook her head.
"I don't think you're in a good position to be asking questions, sweetie."
Kagome shot her a glare. Her retort was lost in another buffet of wind. Kohaku yanked her towards him before it could send her spinning.
Two familiar faces watched them from the nearest tree. The woman in black gave them a casual wave.
"Oh, hey Byakuya."
"Yura, Yura, Yura." The male airbender shook his head with a smile. His voice was all too familiar. "Haven't changed a bit, I see."
"Now that'd be the day," his companion muttered.
Yura didn't bother with a reply. She cast a curious eye over her captives. "So, where do we take it from here?"
Kagome cursed inwardly. The airbenders must have been watching them from the start. Just how many Spiders had been lying in wait? They'd walked right into this without so much as a second thought.
The other woman wrinkled her nose. "The sooner we're out of here the better."
"Hey, no rush Kagura." Byakuya turned his smile on Miroku. "I must say, this is quite the catch Yura. Any plans?"
Yura glanced down at Miroku. Her brows scrunched in thought. "Cute. But he's a little thin on top for my taste."
Byakuya shrugged. "Fair enough. I was never too big on monks. Now if we'd had a little more time on the island-"
Kagura cleared her throat. "Some of us haven't got all day, you know."
"Chill, Kagura." Byakuya waved her down. "He's all yours, if you want him."
Kagura scoffed in reply. "Please. I'd sooner take a hike off a cliff than your leavings."
"The feeling is mutual," Miroku snapped back.
"Ooh. That's downright spicy for an airbender." Yura's smile sharpened. "Anything else you'd care to share with us, sweetie?"
"Honestly," Kagura scoffed. "I don't know which one of you is worse."
"Hey, there's no harm in a little fun," Byakuya replied with a shrug. "Besides, we've all got what we came for, haven't we?" He offered her a smile.
Kagura didn't return it."I swear Sango got off easy,"she muttered under her breath.
"Too bad for her," Yura replied. "Still, if you're looking for some fun-"
"We were looking for the Avatar," Kagura snapped."Keep the spare if you want. Who knows, he might even shut the pair of you up for five minutes."
"Let's not ask for miracles here," Byakuya chuckled.
Kagura ignored him. "Just hand over the girl already."
"Oh?" Yura tilted her head in mock confusion. Her smile was a razor blade. "Sorry, Kagura. Finders keepers."
"Oh, for the love of-"
A streak of flame burst from the shadows. The Spiders flinched. A blazing arc severed Kohaku's wire. Kagome was snatched away before she could blink.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome gasped as they landed atop a sturdy branch. She clung to his shoulder as she fought to regain her breath. He gave her a bemused glance.
"Keh. I really can't leave you alone for five minutes."
She gulped down another breath. "How-"
"Tch." He wrinkled his nose. "I'd know that monk's reek anywhere."
Miroku coughed loudly. "Perhaps we might focus on the matter at hand?" He gave his bindings a pointed glance.
Inuyasha's retort was lost in a sudden gale. They were blown clean off the branch. He kicked out and steadied their descent with a burst of flames. Kagome clung tighter as he strained against the storm.
The wind dropped as quickly as it rose. Inuyasha plummetted to the ground. His legs lashed out before they crashed to earth. He shot behind the nearest tree in a burst of flame.
"Damn you!"
Kagura sent out another blast. Inuyasha ducked down and clutched Kagome to his chest. She squinted her eyes shut as the squall raged around them. Inuyasha tensed to spring. She groped for her waterskin.
"Shit!"
Inuyasha leapt away before she could loosen the cork. Kohaku's wires whistled after him. He shot behind another tree. Kagome winced as the wires sliced into the trunk behind them.
"Ugh! We can't-"
"Keh! Just shut up and stick with me."
He took off again before she could argue. He sped through the forest with Kohaku and the airbenders in pursuit. Kagome hung on for dear life. Her eyes widened as she made out their destination.
"Wha-"
Inuyasha skidded to a halt beside Miroku. His free hand was already ablaze. He slashed through Yura's wires in an instant.
Miroku wasted no time. He filled his lungs and unleashed a massive gust of air. Yura and Kohaku went flying.
Yura shrieked in fury. She shot out another wire and snagged the nearest branch. Kohaku's wires tangled around a slender bough and ripped straight through it. He plummeted towards the ground. Kagura swept in to break his fall.
Byakuya watched the scene with a sigh. He flicked out his fan and sent another gust hurtling towards Kagome. Inuyasha grabbed Miroku by the back of his collar and yanked him behind the huddled together until the onslaught passed.
Miroku wheezed in relief. He gave Inuyasha a rueful smile.
"My tha-"
"Tch. Like I need them," Inuyasha scoffed.
Kagome sighed. "Inu-"
"I trust you have a plan?" Miroku turned his gaze back to the airbenders hovering above them.
"Keh. Just keep them busy." He leapt away before either of them could argue.
Byakuya sent out another blast. Miroku shot back one of his own. Kagome ducked behind the tree. She winced as a barrage of debris tore past her. Good luck getting a clear shot through that. If only she had more than mud to work with.
Inuyasha streaked forwards, dodging from tree to tree. He made straight for the metalbenders. He leapt towards Yura with hands aflame. She swang aside before he could strike.
"Kagura!"
The airbender answered her with a scoff. She whipped out her fan and sent Inuyasha careening towards a sturdy pine. He kicked out before he smashed into it. The tree burst into flames.
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome flung out her hand to launch a spray of mud at the flames. It barely spattered them. Another blast from Byakuya sent her scurrying for cover. Kagura blew out the flames with a sigh and a flick of her wrist.
"Honestly. Do any of you-"
Inuyasha shot towards her. She swerved aside with a curse. Kohaku hurled a wire after him. It snared his arm and yanked him back. Kagura steadied their course with another flick of her fan.
Inuyasha lit up his free hand. A rock smashed into his back before he could take a swipe. His flames sputtered. Yura grinned up at him from the branch she'd swung onto. She sent out another wire and lassooed his free arm.
"Gotcha."
She exchanged a nod with Kagura and leapt backwards off the branch. Kagura shot towards the opposite side of her tree. Inuyasha was dragged behind them. They circled around the tree and slammed him into it. His flames snuffed out like a lamp.
Kagome and Miroku froze. Yura smirked.
"Ooh." She skipped down to the branch just below Inuyasha and flashed him a venomous smile. "You are in so much trouble."
"Shit... "
Inuyasha's hands clawed towards his throat. Yura tugged on her wires. He choked out a curse.
"Oh?" Yura ventured towards him. The wire stayed taut as a snare. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Shu-"
Yura choked him off with another tug. Kagome's hands curled into fists.
"You-"
"Oh, please." Yura waved her away. "Like you'd have the guts."
Kagome glowered in reply. Damn her. She'd have his head off before she could even move.
Yura gave her a satisfied smirk. "Really. What were you thinking? Taking on the Raiju... " she broke off into a giggle."Imagine the Fire Lord's face." She shook her head and tutted.
Miroku gave her a stony stare. "Pride comes before a fall."
Byakuya chuckled. "Looks like the pot wants a word, kettle."
Yura sniffed in disdain. "Honestly. It'd be cute if you weren't so pathetic."
Inuyasha gritted out something inaudible. Yura cast him an amused glance.
"Speaking of cute... "
She reached out and fingered a lock of his hair. A low growl rose in his throat. She giggled in reply.
"Don't worry.I'll take very good care of it for you."
Kagome's nails bit into her palms. "You-"
"Oh?" Yura's grin widened. "Better listen up if you want him to stay in one piece." She nodded towards her waterskin.
Kagome exchanged a glance with Miroku. He gave her a grim nod. She unslung her waterskin and laid it down at her feet.
"Ah, ah, ah." Yura wagged her finger at her. "Mind helping a girl out, Kohaku?"
Kohaku blinked. Yura rolled her eyes and pointed at the waterskin. He started and raised his arm. His wires glinted in a shaft of sunlight. Kagome gathered her breath. Kohaku drew back his arm.
Kagome stamped down on the waterskin. The water jetted straight into Yura's shrieked and flinched away.
Inuyasha's hands flared like torches. He sliced through the trunk with dual arcs of flame. The wires fell from him like cobwebs.
Kohaku sent another wire after him. It grazed his shadow. Kagura and Byakuya followed it up with twin blasts. Miroku swept Kagome aside.
"Ugh!" Yura wiped her hair out of her eyes. Her glare honed in on Kagome. "Why you… "
She raised her arm to strike. Miroku put his fingers to his mouth. He let loose a deafening whistle.
Yura staggered back and clapped her hands to her ears. Kohaku did likewise. Inuyasha howled in protest. Kagura and Byakuya winced.
"Damn monk!"
Inuyasha whirled round with claws ablaze. The Spiders didn't even glance at him. Their eyes were fixed on the sky.
He skidded to a halt. A shadow fell across the clearing. Everyone froze.
"No way... "
A sudden roar shook the sky. A massive tail slammed down like a thunderclap. Everyone was sent flying.
Kagome hurtled past Inuyasha with a scream. He caught her by the scruff of her tunic. She clung to his side to shelter from the onslaught.
"What in the-"
"Hachi!"
Miroku swept past them. He propelled himself towards Hachi with a massive leap. He landed right on his saddle.
"Go!"
He gave them a wave from Hachi's back. Inuyasha replied with a curt nod. He grabbed Kagome and leapt from the branch. Jets of flame burst from his feet. They sailed through the air with the twin airbenders on their tail.
Inuyasha lashed out with his legs Kagura and Byakuya swerved aside. Inuyasha let out another burst. He flew over to Miroku and doused his flames to land on Hachi's saddle.
"Hur-"
Hachi roared as something thumped down on his head. Inuyasha and Kagome turned to find Yura perched in front of them.
Inuyasha's hands blazed. Kagome grabbed her waterskin. Yura shook her head with a smile.
"Nice try, kids. Butyou wouldn't want the big guy to get hurt, right?"
She pulled on the wire wrapped around Hachi's leg. The bison bucked and brayed as it bit into his flesh.
Inuyasha bared his fangs. "You piece of-"
"Oh, why bother?" Yura stifled a fake yawn. "Just hand her over if you want to live."
Miroku gave Yura a grim stare. "I see. In that case, I believe I have only one thing to say to you."
"Oh?" Yura tilted her head. Her eyes were flint. "I wasn't ask-"
"Yip. Yip."
Hachi's ears pricked up with his tail. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome with one hand and Hachi's saddle with the other. He ducked behind the saddle horn as Hachi's tail slammed down. Hachi took off in a massive burst of speed.
Yura was thrown straight from his head. Her wire snapped under the strain. She plummetted to the ground with Byakuya hurtling after her.
Miroku gave her a small smile. They sailed towards the sea with her shrieks still ringing in their ears.
Constructive criticism is very welcome!
