Chapter 23

The wind shifted, carrying with it the mixed scents of the forest and InuYasha's sharp Yokai nose quickly worked to discern them. He was perched on a thick branch high up in one of the many tall trees, far above the ground as his sharp golden eyes scanned the area, searching. His ears swiveled this way and that, picking up the sounds of leaves undulating with the wind, the branches scraping against each other, and the scuffle of many small creatures as they took little notice of him.

But InuYasha took no notice of them, either.

He was on the hunt for much bigger game.

It was the morning after Kagome had visited him, and they'd made passionate, animalistic love beneath the silver light of the moon. She'd left not long after, but her scent still lingered on his skin, and he was comforted by that. He didn't know when he would see her again, but while she was gone, he had work to do.

First on his list, track down the bastards that had stolen her.

It had been almost a week since she'd been returned to them, and at this point, they probably thought they'd gotten away with it.

How wrong they were.

A scent drifted by on the wind, curling up into the air from deep into the forest, tickling his senses immediately.

Graveyard dirt and blood. Fresh, metallic and offensive.

It's them

He didn't think. His instincts took over as the Yokai in him roared to life, fueled by the rage that still lingered there inside him and then he was flying through the trees, deftly bouncing front branch to branch following his nose.

He would never forget the way Kagome had looked when he'd first saw her, after he'd finally picked up on her scent. She'd been unwounded then, though the faint stench of blood had lain over her skin and the way the odd kimono she wore was tattered and stained with mud, hanging loosely off her rigid shoulders. But mostly, he couldn't let go of the way her eyes shone with her own fear, and how she'd looked at him like he could've been the enemy at first, and then like he was the sun it's self as she'd rushed into his arms.

He would never forgive. Much less forget.

From what little he knew of the resurrected mercenaries, there were six of them left, but only one really mattered to InuYasha.

Bankotsu.

He would be the last to die after the Hanyou had cut down his companions one by one. The ghoul didn't know who he had fucked with. InuYasha was no mere Hanyou. He was the son of Inu no Taisho, the greatest demon to ever live, and his pure, ancient blood flowed through his own veins. He wasn't cocky, but he knew that he was strong. His connection with the Tessaiga alone proved that. Together, they'd make quick work of those bastards, he was sure.

The scent intensified, stinging at his eyes and he could now sense the auras of five beings lingering nearby. Up ahead, he could see dark smoke billowing up into the sky, its color fading to white as it neared the tree line. White smoke. That meant that whatever had been on fire was out and was now nothing more than smoldering ember.

He took another deep whiff of the air around him as he paused in the trees, drawing himself up to his full height as he tried to figure the distance between the source of the thick smoke and the five energies he could sense moving east, heading away from the site at a steady, but leisurely pace.

Good

He thought wickedly, eyes flashing as the sun hit them.

They didn't know they were being hunted… that gave him the advantage.

He moved slowly, calculating his every step as now he could hear their voices rising on the air.

"That was fun, but I'm bored now…" whined a high-pitched voice that immediately had InuYasha standing at full attention.

Jakotsu.

The creep with the stark red lipstick that looked like dried blood across his chapped lips, the blue paint beneath his crazed eyes standing out garishly against bone-white skin and black hair. The image of him, smiling even as he spit out his own teeth, mouth filled with blood after InuYasha had delivered a harsh blow to the specter's jaw was still fresh in his mind.

He could feel his pulse slowing down as the beast took over. His claws lengthened to sharp points, his fangs elongating even as he felt a strange sense of calm overtake him. The kind of calm that a lion feels as it stalks its unknowing prey through the underbrush; the kind that only a predator could know.

He crept ever closer, rearing up behind the group of men, hidden in the trees and not making a sound. There were five of them that he could see, and only one that he recognized. The dark-haired man, wearing that gaudy purple kimono was walking up ahead of the others that lingered behind. A man who looked like a monk, a much smaller, dwarfed looking man dressed strangely in white linen, and another, rather large brutish specter who was taking up the rear. His hair was short and spiked up off his head, his body clad in armor, and at his side InuYasha could see deadly blades glinting in the sunlight, attached to his hand by some sort of gloves.

"So, what's next big brother?" Jakotsu said, drawing his gaze to the front of the group where another man strode confidently with the largest blade InuYasha had ever seen casually perched onto his shoulder. The massive sword was twice the size of Tessaiga, and the thing had to weigh at least a few hundred pounds, he was certain. But the man who wielded the weapon seemed to be of a similar build to InuYasha himself, and there was nothing special about him. He could sense no demonic aura surrounding any of the men, nothing that would bolster their strength enough to carry a blade such as that.

"Oh, I don't know. I suppose it's time we track down that Hanyou mutt before Naraku sends his minions our way again." The man in front scoffed, and InuYasha felt his blood run cold at the mention of the bastard who had first wrecked his life to begin with.

Every muscle in his body seemed to tighten, readying to launch himself into the fray in an instant. With every fiber, every cell of his being he knew that the man with the gargantuan sword was Bankotsu. The man who had almost taken everything from him. The one who had dared to lay a finger on his Kagome.

His skin was tanned, his hair dark as the night itself and hanging down to his calves, tied in a long braid. He wore armor, and his demeanor was that of someone who felt they were entitled to whatever caught their eye. Those hands… they had touched her skin. Bruised it. Defiled her body, snatched her up and sealed her away.

He would start by cutting them off.

He could feel rage overcoming him, burning through his blood until the world was coated in red. Pulsing, urgent, demanding his action. It felt like pure fire; it bled into his soul and there was nothing, nothing that could keep him from his revenge.

All logical thought evaporated, leaving only the wild Inu that could not be sated until he felt the hot, wet blood of his enemy splatter across his lips as he tore his throat out with his fangs. He wanted to see the very moment the life left his eyes as he tore the jewel shards that sustained his life from his body; he wanted to watch as he crumbled to dust and faded away on the wind, nothing more than dirt and ash.

The trees around him afforded him some cover, and the men still hadn't picked up on his presence yet. The seal of the Tessaiga was the only thing that kept him from unleashing the full brunt force of his demonic side, but he could feel his cheeks burning as the jagged purple marks appeared and his fangs lengthening down into deadly points. His hands gripped at the Tessaiga at his hip, his stance widening as he readied himself.

For Kagome

And then he was flying, using his powerful legs to launch himself into the air, managing to bounce off the trees with perfect precision and balance, getting ahead of the unsuspecting mercenaries as they meandered up the path. He saw them, flashes of them through the wood and when there were about fifty feet between them, he jumped.

He burst through the tree line, landing in a low crouch in front of the men, taking them head-on and by complete surprise.

"Well…" InuYasha growled out, his lips splitting in what he was sure was a ghastly grin, "looks like I've made your job easy for you."

He drew his Tessaiga; the sound of the metal sliding out from the sheath was enough to raise goosebumps along his arms as his heart rate seemed to slow to an eerie calm.

He faced Bankotsu, meeting his darkened almond-shaped eyes, watching as they flashed with surprise, but only briefly. He smiled, gripping at the massive halberd on his shoulder.

"InuYasha!" Jakotsu exclaimed, clapping giddily in delight. "You must've missed me if you've come all this way just to die." His red-painted lips stretched in a thin smile, practically swooning as the half-demon ignored him completely, focusing only on the dark-haired man who was about to be a pile of dust and bones.

"So, this is InuYasha, huh?" Bankotsu said, looking him up and down. His dark brows were arched dubiously, mouth set in a cocky line. "Honestly, I just don't get why Naraku is so worried about you." He chuckled, "You don't seem so impressive to me."

The rest of his goons snickered behind him but InuYasha was only focused on one thing: taking Bankotsu's life into the palm of his hands and crushing it like a bug.

"You won't be saying that when you're choking on your own blood."

Bankotsu raised his eyebrows, laughing openly.

"That's a bold statement to make… coming from someone who's outnumbered six to one." He smirked, looking smug.

InuYasha wanted to rip that look off his face- wanted to shred it to pieces and spit on his tattered remains. But then, in a brief moment of clarity, he silently counted out the men that were standing in front of him.

There were only five… and Bankotsu had said that he was outnumbered six to one… so that meant-

His train of thought was cut off as suddenly he was sent flying sideways through the air, crashing through the trees and landing hard on his back, all his breath rushing out of his lungs as pain exploded behind his eyes.

"Nice work Ginkotsu," He heard Bankotsu chuckle over the sound of his own blood pounding in his ears. His vision swam, his body not responding to the signals his brain was sending and all he could feel was the throbbing ache in his side from whatever had smashed into him.

Move

He willed his legs to work as he struggled to lift his head, looking down to see his toes twitching with the effort.

Move, damn it. Move!

"Awe, the little mutt can't get up." Bankotsu had walked over to the tree line, still holding his sword casually, a nasty smirk twisting at his lips. "Pity. I thought you'd be a bigger challenge than that."

The feeling came back to his legs and InuYasha dragged himself up to stand on shakily, his bare feet scraping against the forest floor as he stumbled a bit, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the dirt. He wiped his mouth before bringing his hands up to protect his vitals. His claws extended as he took up a defensive position against the specter, who looked amused.

Don't count me out yet

"Well, I can respect a man who wants to die on his feet," Bankotsu chuckled, gesturing with his free hand for InuYasha to follow him back out onto the barren area of the path as he turned away.

"It looks like Ginkotsu's cannon got the best of him, big brother." Jakotsu's feminine voice whined, one hand poised at his hip while the other held his snake-like sword dejectedly. "Look at him! He's pretty much done for. This isn't going to be any fun at all."

With hands that wouldn't quite cooperate with him, InuYasha quickly searched for his sword which had tumbled out of his grasp when he'd crashed and found it nearby, buried beneath the underbrush. The energy of the blade surged through him, reviving him a bit and he felt a little steadier. It was the ancient power of his father's that fueled the Tessaiga, and that was the very same energy that was keeping him going now.

He raised his head, drawing his shoulders back as he walked back out to face the group of men proudly, like a warrior.

He wasn't weak.

He wasn't a mutt.

He was the son of the great Inu no Taisho. And he'd give em hell.

The sixth man had come from out of the woods on the opposite side as InuYasha, his body seemingly comprised of dark metal, his form and face only vaguely humanoid as he was more machine than man. What little skin was left was deep sienna, the patches of hair on top of his head the color of fire as his beady little eyes darted around. He joined the others, taking up the rear with a slow, lumbering gait.

But why couldn't I sense him…

Even now the beast of a man had no energy about him whatsoever. None that he could pick up on, anyway. And he'd fired at him from the trees with some sort of cannon… it must be inside his body somehow.

What the hell is he?

Bankotsu stood at the head, with the cross-dressing Jakotsu poised at his side.

"Alright little Hanyou, perk up a bit, won't you?" He jeered, smirking. "This'll be fun, promise."

"Hey, big brother, can I kill him? Pretty please?" Jakotsu asked, his light voice lilted and pleading but his face was composed in a chilling mask. Red lips stretched wide in a smile, his dark, cold eyes staring dead at InuYasha, never leaving him.

"No! I came for you, Bankotsu." InuYasha interrupted before he could answer, spitting another mouthful of blood out onto the ground. He could feel himself healing minutely, but even so that cannon blast had taken him by surprise and whatever Ginkotsu had launched had landed a direct hit, probably causing some internal bleeding. From the way he was wheezing he knew that it had broken a couple of ribs for sure, but he'd fought through worse before.

"Oh?" Bankotsu looked intrigued now, taking a step towards him. "and why is that, mutt?"

InuYasha wiped at his mouth again, looking up at the man with a burning, defiant stare. "For what you did to Kagome." He spat, the fire of his anger roaring to life again as he was reminded of his purpose.

The look in her eyes as she collapsed into his arms flashed through his mind, broken and traumatized. His grip tightened on the handle of his sword, feeling their demonic aura's merge and meld together.

Bankotsu's face became stormy in an instant. His dark brows arched meanly; his mouth drawn back in an evil sneer.

"So, the little bitch is alive after all. Tell me, are you the one who broke our barrier?" He took another step forward, casually swinging his blade down to stick into the soft earth with an air of menace brewing around him.

"No," Bankotsu said after a moment of looking at him shrewdly, a grin slowly splitting his face. "You're much too weak."

The world was painted in shades of red as InuYasha lifted his sword to strike.

He couldn't think. Couldn't feel anything beyond the rage that consumed his spirit. The Inu in him was protective of what or whom he considered to be theirs, and in his eyes, Kagome was above all others. He didn't care if it was six against one. Hell, it wouldn't have mattered if it was a hundred against one. He would defeat armies for her. He didn't care if he died so long as he took Bankotsu with him. Avenging her was worth everything that came his way.

Time felt like it had slowed to a trickle, and he watched as the Tessaiga sliced through the air, heading straight for Bankotsu's throat.

But it never landed.

With alarming quickness, the Ronin quickly countered the would-be killing blow, pulling his blade from the ground and blocking the Tessaiga from slicing into him.

"Nice try, half breed." He spat with a wolfish grin. "Did I strike a nerve there?"

The metallic sound of their blades scraping against each other was like nails on a chalkboard and had him gritting his teeth as he threw his weight behind his weapon, trying to shove the other man back. His feet slid a little, but in the next second, he was pushing against him, his face lighting up.

"It's a shame, really… If I'd only had just a little more time with her… sweet, soft little Kagome." He laughed, and all InuYasha knew was the broiling hate that stewed in his belly, his eyes going red as the Inu took over.

"Don't you fucking say her name, you bastard!" He roared, jumping away just to come at him harder, with a flurry of attacks. Metal hit metal every time. The specter seemed to effortlessly block his every move, that disgusting smile never leaving his face.

"You can't stop me. You're going to die here; I'll enjoy watching your blood paint the earth… maybe even more than Jakotsu would." He lifted his large sword just in time to block another of InuYasha's blows just as it was about to skewer him straight through. "Your puny little sword could never hold a candle to my Banryu here, we have a special sort of relationship."

As if to emphasize this, he lifted the massive halberd up over his head, swinging it to gain some momentum as he aimed for InuYasha's head. It was all he could do just to jump out of the way before it could decapitate him, but still, he felt the sting of the blade and could smell the acrid scent of his own blood as it hit the air.

"Kill him already, would you? I'm getting sick of all this chatter." The man who looked like a monk intoned, his small, shrewd eyes looking cold and indifferent and his voice was flat and stale.

InuYasha looked down, seeing an open, gaping wound in his side that was gushing out bright red blood.

But… how?

The robe of the fire rat was supposed to be impenetrable. It was akin to the finest armor, surpassing even that as it could protect its wearing from any blade and even fire. But now, as he looked down, he could see that the fabric had been torn, sliced open along with his flesh underneath. It didn't make any sense. But he couldn't think about that right now.

He raised his head, panting with exertion but the adrenaline coursing through his blood masked the pain for now. All he could feel was pure, unbridled rage.

"You did yet, puppy?" Bankotsu grinned, and InuYasha could see the red that stained the man's blade as he held it out in front of him, the deadly point glinting sharply in the afternoon light.

"C'mon, big brother, let me play with him a little… please?" Jakotsu whined, looking impatient as he rocked on his heels, practically crackling with manic energy. His ill-fitting purple kimono hung off his shoulders, exposing his pale collar bone and he could see that his knuckles were turning white where they were wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

"Nah… he's mine."

"But! Big brother-" Jakotsu made to step toward his leader but was quickly stopped as Bankotsu cut him off with an aggravated look.

"I said no! now back off." It was a thinly veiled threat but InuYasha wasn't listening. He'd found his opening.

As Bankotsu made the mistake of looking away, he made his move. He jumped out of range of the massive halberd, raising his Tessaiga midair as the wound in his side screamed. He ignored the pain, letting out a primal roar as he let the energy build up inside him, ready to explode as he sailed straight for the dark-haired Ronin.

"Wind sca-"

He didn't have a chance to land the attack.

The words stuck in his throat as suddenly, his entire body was seized with intense, crushing agony. Bankotsu's face twisted in an evil smirk, leaning against the halberd he'd casually stuck back into the ground again.

"Thought you had me there for a sec, huh? Too bad. Thanks, Ginkotsu, I owe ya one."

The metallic man made a grunt of acknowledgment, the sound resonating low and tinny. From underneath his shoulder guards protruded two thick metal wires, both pointing straight out, held taught by the gargantuan man's body.

InuYasha could only look down in confusion, realizing that the reason he was crippled was that he was suspended in midair, his sword having clattered from his numb fingers down to the ground. His chest had been pierced straight through on both sides by those thick wires, and they held him in place by anchoring themselves into the trunks of the trees around him, all his bodyweight pulling at the wounds that poured blood. It was a struggle to breathe.

His lungs felt like someone had set a fifty-pound bag of bricks atop his chest, blood bubbling up around his lips as he could only gasp for air.

Kagome…

"It's over." Bankotsu laughed, his dark eyes shining with satisfaction and InuYasha could see himself reflected in them, though his vision was fading around the edges.

"Fuck you," He spat, curling his lips back to reveal his fangs. His chest felt like it was on fire. It couldn't end like this. "bastard."

"You know… I had half a mind to let you live…just so you could run back to that little vixen of yours and tell her that I'm coming… because between you and me, I'd really like to get a taste of her before Naraku kills her. Granted, the bitch did spit in my face, but hey, women, am I right?" He chuckled, scratching his head as if he was curious. "Tell me, you've had her, right? I knew she was lying when she said she was a virgin. Was she as sweet as she looks?"

Despite the broiling anger that burned in his gut at the way the man lewdly spoke of his woman, he could do nothing but hang there by his dripping wounds, every cell in his body screaming for relief.

"Shut up!" He managed to bite out, thrashing a bit in an ill-fated effort to free himself. Waves of agony rolled down his spine, causing him to gasp and cough as he could feel blood gurgling in his lungs.

Fucking wire… must have pierced it… it hurts to breathe...this isn't looking good Kagome, I'm sorry….

"No, I don't think I will." He smirked, looking back at his men who lingered behind him. Jakotsu, who looked rather put out as he stared up an InuYasha's body hanging there in the air like a rag doll, licking his painted lips with sickening want written plainly there in his expression. The monk and the rest of them just looked bored, and he could see that they lingered about impatiently. "What do you think, men? Shall I cleave his head from his shoulders? I'm sure Naraku wouldn't mind a trophy." He trailed off thoughtfully as he yanked the halberd from the soft earth, twirling it impressively in the air, taking a step in the injured Inu's direction.

InuYasha was losing consciousness.

The edges of his vision were fuzzy, his limbs going numb as oxygen couldn't make it to his brain to sustain them or foster any sort of demonic healing that would have normally already begun its work. His mind was foggy, his thoughts slurred together and all he could focus on were the images that seemed to flash through his mind at their own accord.

Kagome, smiling. That warm smile that he loved, the one that made her brown eyes shine like burnt amber.

Kagome, telling him that she would always be by his side, even if he could never feel the same about her as she did him, her obsidian hair lifted by the breeze, her modern uniform swaying around her girlish hips. She had seemed so young to him back then... even though it had only been less than a year since. She was so pure and innocent that he could have never imagined his rough, calloused hands tracing along her delicate skin. But then, she'd blossomed right under his nose, becoming so much more than any of them could have ever realized.

And then, his mind cleared, and his eyes fluttered open. He could see Bankotsu's lips moving, could feel the caress of the wind across his skin but all he could hear was the thundering pound of his own heartbeat as it slowed inside his chest.

The light reflected off the silver halberd as it swung towards him with deadly force.

He knew he was going to die.

Kagome danced through his mind again… this time, her eyes looked sad.

I'm sorry… I was a fool… I-

He didn't have a chance to finish the thought.

"You there… cease what you're doing at one, lest you face the wrath of the mighty Lord of the West!"

A sharp, wailing voice pierced his psyche and his vision faded back in, only to see Bankotsu, standing with his blade poised only inches from InuYasha's throat, ready to deliver the final, killing blow. But his eyes were looking off to the side, his dark brows drawn angrily downwards. It was a voice that InuYasha knew well, high-pitched and shrill, but it was his savior in this moment.

He didn't understand what was going on. His head felt so heavy, he couldn't turn to look at the source of the noise, but he recognized it instantly.

Jaken… what are you doing… he'll kill you, stupid imp… just run…

"And who the hell are you, exactly?" Bankotsu spat, obviously annoyed.

"Oh… it isn't him you should be worrying about, fool." A smooth, cold voice spoke evenly, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

InuYasha watched as the gazes of Bankotsu and the other men that stood behind him were drawn up, over his head and into the sky. But he could feel himself waning, his eyes drifting shut again as he just couldn't hold them open any longer. The pressure on his wounds from supporting his full weight was immense, the skin tearing even as he drifted; his lungs all but collapsing in on themselves as his body struggled to even take a single breath.

He heard a scuffle break out, the sound of cursing and metal twanging against metal, and then… nothing. Only blackness that consumed him, swallowed him whole as her name lingered in the forefront of his mind.

Kagome…

A/N

Our baby boy is a lil hot head and he gets ahead of himself sometimes… but onii-chan is here to save the day! Sorry for the long wait AND cliffhanger, next chapter should be up here soon though. As always, thanks for reading & drop me a review and tell me what you think :)