Chapter 46 - Match
The wicked sound of Naraku's laughter faded, leaving the red eyed demon smirking down at his silver haired opponent. Then, Naraku turned his head, distracted again. Sesshomaru smelled it too.
InuYasha is getting closer. I will not have him interfere and risk Rin's life. This must be finished now.
"Naraku. You seem preoccupied with what's outside these walls."
"Lord Sesshomaru, I am afraid that I will have to cut out visit short." For a moment, Sesshomaru was certain his heart stopped.
What does that mean? Is he saying Rin's life is forfeit?
Naraku was still speaking. "I will have your power. Every last bit of your demonic power."
Suddenly. Sesshomaru realized what this was all about. I should have realized that I was the true target. This was never about Rin, or InuYasha. He wants to absorb me, as he did with all the other demons. My energy is the only chance he has to become powerful.
But the realization was late. Naraku's fleshy tentacles had already leapt to his command, wrapping themselves like vices around Sesshomaru. Slimy, disgusting pieces of rejected demon flesh trying to imprison him. His arms and legs were already pinned, Tokijin was useless unless he could move. The tentacles slid upward, encompassing him to his waist, then his shoulders.
This is not the end Naraku. Sesshomaru swore to himself. InuYasha is almost here. I will get free, you will not have me or Rin.
Thunder rumbled overhead. Distantly, Sesshomaru heard Jaken screaming as his lord was engulfed within the slimy flesh completely. It passed over his head, blocking out all the light. Sesshomaru could feel the tentacles trying to suck the demonic energy from his very core. He closed his eyes against the darkness tightening his grip on Tokijin. With all his energy, he focused on a barrier, preventing Naraku from absorbing his power. It took every bit of his energy to focus. Outside of his fleshy tomb, he heard rumbling. InuYasha has arrived.
Rin. Sesshomaru's heart pounded in his chest, the darkness bringing her brown eyes to the forefront of his mind. I will find you.
Another sound from outside, this one louder. Sesshomaru felt the tentacles power wane, as Naraku took another hit from Tetsusaiga. It was a blow that should have destroyed the demon… the only reason Naraku still lived, was his tether to a significantly stronger demon. Sesshomaru himself.
Good job, little brother.
Not wasting a millisecond of this opportunity, Sesshomaru ripped Tokijin free, and dropped to a crouch, emitting a powerful burst of defensive energy from the blade. It ripped his prison into fleshy tendrils, exposing him to the world once again. Now free, Sesshomaru felt the rage roil in his chest. Somewhere beyond, InuYasha and Jaken both made exclamations at the sight of him.
How dare he. Stepping free, his kegutsu smashed pieces of the writhing flesh under his feet. Sesshomaru was angry, but smug. Did Naraku truly think he was powerful enough to consume a demon such as himself? The fool.
"Hah… Naraku. Ironic isn't it? To think that the flesh that bound me to you, would be your shield against InuYasha's windscar." Let the fool consider that for a moment, and come to the reality of the situation. He would not have survived the hanyo's attack.
InuYasha shouldered his way in front of Sesshomaru. "Move it!" He aimed at his brother. "I'm taking Naraku down!"
"No. Naraku belongs to me." Sesshomaru said calmly. Rins eyes rose in his mind again. Is she still alive? No one would take his vengeance from him, not even InuYasha.
"Not likely, this time you won't interfere." InuYasha growled, raising Tetsusaiga in a challenge.
Sesshomaru glared hot daggers at his brother. What he had been about to voice in contradiction was lost, when Naraku began to move.
"I shall absorb both of you while you bicker!" Naraku announced, lifting his half destroyed body from the rubble.
"Eh? What's that?!" InuYasha turned to the dark haired demon, lip curled in a snarl.
Laughing, Naraku's bulk grew before their very eyes, reforming into a fleshy tower of tentacles rising high above the brothers. Laughing, he struck at them both with formed claws. "Die!"
InuYasha and Sesshomaru leapt apart in opposite directions. The hanyo leaping around the slashes, while the yokai took the sky, easily sliding to the side to avoid each of Naraku's attempts to lash out.
"You cannot escape my attacks forever!" Naraku declared, redoubling his efforts.
"Just die will ya?" InuYasha yelled, slashing the attacking tendrils with energy from the Tetsusaiga. Likewise, but silent, Sesshomaru released energy at each wave of tentacles that reached for him, disintegrating them all. "This should finish you off once and for all!" InuYasha declared from somewhere on the ground beneath Sesshomaru. A blinding gold wave of energy hit Naraku, destroying all of his tentacles and lower undulating flesh. The demon cried out in wonder as the human portion of his body fell and hit the pile of ruined flesh.
"One more should do it!" InuYasha lifted Tetsusaiga for another blow, one which Sesshomaru could not allow. He would not lose his right to vengeance.
The yokai sped around his brother, Tokijin at the ready. "I told you to let me take him." He warned InuYasha, again.
"Back down!"
Heedless of his brothers complaints, Sesshomaru lashed out. Blue energy flared from Tokijin, engulfing what was left of Naraku. Just as it appeared that the battle was to be concluded, dark miasma exploded from Naraku, making the air dark as ink. The brothers both leapt away. The toxic air swirled into a tornado, that lifted from the ground and hovered in the air above the castle.
"Lord Sesshomaru. I shall withdraw for now."
Rage flared with Sesshomaru's chest. How dare he think that cowardice was an excuse for withdraw? "You FOOL!" He yelled at the retreating miasma. This Sesshomaru will not back down. I do not permit such a withdraw. His lips lifted in a snarl, revealing teeth that grew even as they were seen. Red demonic energy filled the air around the yokai, rage and hatred filling the blood in his veins. His gold eyes faded to red. "Don't think you can ever escape my grasp!" Sesshomaru could feel the change begin in his very bones.
Amidst the cloud of miasma, Naraku chuckled. "Lord Sesshomaru. Rather than transforming and hunting me down, shouldn't you be rushing to the side of that young… mortal, girl?"
Rin. Instantaneously, his transformation stopped, his eyes fading back to gold. He's threatening her life, if I pursue. Curse him. Naraku still has me exactly where he wants me. If I pursue, Rin will be killed. If I back down, Naraku has confirmation that Rin's life has value. Damn his soul.
"Your companion, Rin." Naraku clarified — likely with the intent to expose his secret to InuYasha. "She is with the boy named Kohaku." The name meant nothing to Sesshomaru, but given InuYasha's look of horror, it wasn't a positive association. "InuYasha, even you should realize the implications."
Above them, the miasma dispersed, leaving a clear night sky.