InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Chaos ❯ Hunt ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, YuYu Hakusho (As much as I'd love to) or any of the anime/manga characters.

Warnings: Strong Language, Gore, and serious angst

Hunt

 

Kagome kicked off another tree, the wood snapping from the force. As she flew through the air, Kagura watched her closely, taking in the way her hand was gripping her sword's hilt so tight it was practically bleeding, and the smell of anger coming off of her. The next time she came up, Kagura pushed more air under herself, coming up next to her and moving so that the demoness landed on her feather.

Despite her anger, Kagome had enough restraint not to kick off of her friend's mode of transportation, and she fell to a crouch.

“Save your energy for tearing the bitch's throat out,” Kagura said, her eyes locked forward.

“I'm starting to lose her smell. Snakes and birds aren't the best for following someone by scent, and she didn't stay long enough for me to catch a trace of her energy, so I've got nothing better to use,” Kagome growled.

“It's not that you're losing her scent. The bastard probably found a way to hide it from us. Her barrier should've been strong enough to hold us off, but it barely held up at all. Of all the things Naraku is, he's not stupid. He should've at least been able to estimate what it would take.”

Kagome's eyes widened, her grip slackening on the Tetsusaiga somewhat.

“It's a trap,” she said, her eyes moving erratically around their group.

“Yeah, probably. It's what he's good at, after all,” Kagura growled, glaring forward.

Kagome's eyes froze on a spot ahead, and her entire body tensed.

“Shit. Kagura, drop!”

“What?”

Kagome grabbed Kagura and dove for the ground before Kagura could take her next breath. Suddenly, her feather ignited with a dark, black fire, and dark power flowed through the air.

The others kept coming toward them, and Kagome jumped to her feet.

“Stop!”

They froze mid-step as Kagome slowly drew the Tetsusaiga.

“Why the hell are we stopped?” Yusuke growled.

“Whatever you do, don't put your foot down.”

“Why?”

Kagome's eyes closed and she took a deep sniff of the air. An instant later, she was moving, the Tetsusaiga pulsing.

A high-pitched, girlish giggle filled the air and suddenly, there before them stood Kagehime.

“My, my, you have very good eyes, Kagome,” she said, smiling evilly.

The others glared confusedly at her until she snapped her fingers. All around them, a dark, foul wind exploded and with it, a sort of illusion broke. All around their forms were glowing, dangerous-looking wire. They criss-crossed and jagged across the entire clearing, and one was at where each of their feet would have fallen.

Kagome swung her blade down and Kagehime smirked.

“Kazekiba,” she said, punching upward.

Her grinder-like tornado of youki rushed upward, and Kagome was suddenly thrown several feet back before gracefully landing on her feet, inches from a rising Kagura.

“Kagura, watch where you move,” Kagome said, her body taking on a more demonic appearance than previously seen. “There's wires all around us. Energy's flowing through them, and they connect to something very bad. Guessing by your feather, I'd say explosives. But I don't know where they are.”

“How's that possible, if you can sense their energy?”

“There are so many that I can't tell where any individual ones are,” Kagome said, preparing to charge once again.

Kagura rose to her feet, unable to hide the surprise on her face, even as she drew her fans in anger.

“My, Kagome, you're certainly focused when you're angry. Have a bad dream?”

“I hope you don't plan on leaving this clearing, ever again,” Kagome growled, youki flowing upward from her body.

“Oh, I think I should be saying that,” Kagehime said before snapping her fingers again.

All around the group, a massive army of demons suddenly appeared from the forest. Kagome's confusion turned to anger when a nearly invisible barrier popped, and all their scents and youki suddenly flooded her senses.

Instantly, the attack on Kagura and herself made sense, and a new anger bubbled up.

“So, that's how you did that.”

“What ever could you mean, Kagome?” she asked, smirking as her Jagan slid open, the black pupil focusing on Kagome.

“Hey, what the hell should we do!?” Yusuke growled.

“Yes, this is a rather unfortunate situation we've found ourselves in,” Kurama said, glaring at the line under his foot. “I can't smell them, and moving in a metaphorical minefield while in combat may prove dangerous.”

“Hn, speak for yourself, fox,” Hiei said, several feet away from the others with his sword in one hand and a massive ball of destroyed wire in the other.

“Uh, guys? I don't think I can stay like this much longer,” Kuwabara said, sweat beading all over his forehead.

“Ideas, Kagura?” Kagome asked, her eyes not leaving Kagehime's.

“I'm not really a big thinker,” the sorceress sighed, extending her fans.

“Better hurry, Kagome,” Kagehime said, laughing. “I don't think your friends will do well against all of my fire-proof demons in their current condition.”

“Damnit… Hiei!”

“What, onna?” he asked, grabbing another set of wire, which ignited and shriveled in his hand, which didn't have a mark on it.

“You're the fire demon. And I know you can see them all. Just… do something!”

“I don't enjoy being ordered around, onna,” Hiei growled.

“Yeah, well, deal with it. I can't see them. It was lucky I could sense them in time at all.”

“It's not my problem,” he said, shrugging.

“Hiei, if I die, I swear I'm gonna' come back and kick your ass!” Yusuke yelled. “Screw it!”

He brought his foot down and Kagome's eyes widened as a massive wall of flames shot toward him from both sides. Unperturbed, he simply punched the fire. Kagome didn't understand why he wasn't getting burned until his hand glowed bright blue.

“Shotgun!”

The energy exploded outward and the fire died just in time for him to dive away from the other pyre.

Kurama glared at the wires, which completely surrounded his body from head to foot, only giving him a few inches of movement possible. Judging by Kuwabara's whimpering, he seemed to be in a similar situation.

The demons closed in from all sides, and Yusuke growled.

“Bring it on, ya bastards!” he yelled before taking on five massive oni by himself.

“Well, that one's too stupid to care about dying,” Kagehime said, watching the detective get beat in four different places while he killed the other one.

Kagome moved with the instant that Kagehime's attention wasn't on her, but the Jagan widened and, just as the Tetsusaiga came at her throat, Kagehime disappeared.

Sudden pain shot up her spine and she fell forward, spinning to find Kagehime. Wind engulfed her arm and blood fell from her fingers as she sneered.

“Dance of Blades!”

Kagehime's mirth died as she swiped outward. Kagura's attack smashed into her own wall of wind, and they both died.

“Well now, why don't you be a good little subordinate and stay out of an actual fight!? Akumu no Kaze!”

The Jagan suddenly bled of its white, and a dark, coal-black sea took over, the pupil glowing bright red. Suddenly, a ball of dark energy formed in front of the eye and launched at Kagura, too fast for even her youkai senses to follow.

But, just before the energy hit, a wall of wind formed, holding it back. The wall slowly began to crack under the attack's power, but by the time it pushed through, Kagura was gone.

Kagome was at her side just as she hit a series of wires, blocking the flames.

“Kagura, go from behind. I'll distract her,” Kagome whispered, so fast and quiet that Kagura would've thought she may have misheard had Kagome not suddenly broken off from her side and charged Kagehime.

The Tetsusaiga came down toward the incarnation's head before the Jagan again glowed.

“Again!”

The energy formed inches from Kagome's face, and she swung the Tetsusaiga downward, pushing herself out of its course. It blasted forward and the ground suddenly exploded.

All of the soil darkened and blackened, and a sense of evil came from all around the group.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome saw Yusuke and Hiei destroying demons left and right, showing no signs of injury or fatigue whatsoever. She also saw that there were even more of them coming, from all directions.

“Idiot,” a low, evil whisper rasped, bringing her focus back.

She found herself suddenly surrounded by a wall of stark-black energy, and Kagehime smirked.

“Let's try this one more time! Prepare for eternal slumber, Kagome! Akumu no Kaze!”

The ball rushed forward, and Kagome found that she had nowhere to go. With no other option, she pulled youki into the Tetsusaiga, which darkened.

“Shit… Hope I can use this. Meidou Zangetsuha!”

She slashed downward, and a massive circle of darkness formed in front of her. It cut straight through Kagehime's attack, and the incarnation snarled as both vanished.

Youki began building up and suddenly, a wave of scythes blasted through the air. Kagehime simply smirked and began to block, when Kagome raised her hand.

“Spirit Gun!”

A blast of energy shot from her fingertip, and the incarnation was incapable of blocking both. But when she tried, she got hit with the full force of their combined power.

Her body was torn apart, all three of her eyes glaring death at Kagome.

Slowly, her body rebuilt itself in the air, but Kagome obviously wasn't in the mood to let that happen.

“Wind Scar!”

She brought her sword down and the massive cascade of youki blasted into Kagehime, who was slowly breaking down.

“You're not nearly as strong as you were when we were exhausted,” she growled.

Kagura's lips pulled back in a feral sneer, her eyes watching Kagehime's own, wide in horror.

“Dance of the Dragon!”

The massive tornados tore through her flesh. Kagehime's screams filled the air and every attacking demon in the army suddenly stopped their charge, all eyes going to the dying demoness.

A barrier exploded outward, protecting her body as Kagehime slowly rebuilt herself, a dangerous glint in her eye.

The Tetsusaiga glowed red and Kagome charged, swinging at the barrier. But when it hit, the impact shot through Kagome's body and she was thrown backward.

“What the hell!?”

Kagehime's body finished its restoration, and she sneered.

“Time to feel what I just felt.”

Kagehime snapped her fingers, and a slow, red pulsation of energy shot outward. It went through a tense Kagome, who blinked in confusion when all she felt was a slight pushing sensation.

As soon as it passed through Kagome, another came, and another, more waves building faster. And then, the waves began getting bigger, and wider. Suddenly, Kagome dropped to a crouch, her body glowing a bright scarlet.

Kagehime's lips pulled back in a feral sneer as Kagome's entire body began to glow brighter and brighter. And then, the waves crested and Kagome let out a bone-chilling scream.

Power flared up, becoming a wall to separate her from the running Kagura or any of her other allies. Slowly, her skin became dented and creased, and to Yusuke's horror, small, dilated eyes began to open along her body.

“Hiei-”

“The sword is still in the Reikai, I believe,” the demon said, watching the phenomenon with the same shock as the others.

Kagome's screams built in pitch and, as if a sign had been given, the demons attacked the group with a renewed and considerably more aggressive vigor.

Kagura fought against the building pressure against her, moving toward Kagome. And, somehow, the sounds of Kagome's screams and demonic roars failed to drown out the sound of Kagehime's maniacal laughter.

Despite the obvious agony overcoming her entire body, Kagome rose to a stand, her body pulsing with immense power. Kagehime's laughter cut off as Kagome's entire body began to change.

Her skin began to turn green and the eyes all over her body began to widen. Instead of making her a mindless puppet, like when Hiei had originally pulled this feat, however, it only seemed to add to Kagome's anger.

Kagura watched as the miko drove the Tetsusaiga into the ground at her feet and released her hold. As soon as she was no longer in contact with the blade, the power in the air exploded and became something like nothing anyone present had ever experienced.

All around the miko-turned-demon, Kagehime's energy pulsed and swirled, mixing with her own. Black lightning discharged randomly around her body, and the demons once again halted their attack, affected by their master's shock.

Slowly, Kagome's talons elongated and her fangs lengthened, becoming sharper and more savage-looking. Two angular, tusk-like stripes formed on her cheek, ending with both points on either side of her jaws.

And then, her eyelids slid open, and two orbs the color of darkness and nightmares focused on Kagehime.

Kagehime's cage around Kagome suddenly vanished, along with the green tinge to her skin and the eyes all over her. Before the incarnation could react, Kagome moved, her speed so great even Hiei would lose by far in comparison.

Screams filled the air and Kagome reappeared where she'd stood seconds before. Blood was covering the entirety of both her arms, and bits of skin and armor-like shielding fell in globs from the tips of her talons.

Of the hundred demons that had been left and attacking Yusuke's group, ninety of them suddenly fell to the ground in bloody chunks and bits across the town. The others were bleeding massively and letting out agonized screams.

But all eyes were on Kagehime. Both her arms were completely destroyed, hanging in shredded bits all around her. The rest of her body was in much the same shape. But that wasn't what captured everyone's attention.

What was so fascinating was both the massive, gaping hole in her chest, exactly where a human's heart would be. And the other was that, all around that hole, steam and green liquid rose from the jagged edges.

Kagehime's eyes were almost comically wide, staring in horror at Kagome.

Slowly, the miko's hand moved to the hilt of her blade. The second that she made contact, power once again surged, and all of her demonic features vanished. The sight of the human Kagome covered in blood and body parts was far more disturbing than her demonic form had been.

The clearing was filled with a cold, dead silence save for Kagehime's gasping and panting and her minions' roars. The silence was broken almost violently by Kagome's intake of breath in preparation of her coming speech.

“This time,” she said, raising the sword above her head slowly, “you won't be coming back.”

Kagehime's horrified eyes tracked the Tetsusaiga's movement as she continued gasping for air that was helping her very little.

“What… What did… What did you do?” she panted, clutching at her chest.

“Naraku made me a snake. So I used it. Youkai poison's coursing through your veins faster and faster every second. Anything you heal will break down and be useless now. This is the end, you bitch. But, before I end this, tell me where that bastard is.”

Despite herself, Kagehime laughed, though her eyes remained cold and hateful.

“You think I'll tell you just because I'm dying? Naraku can bring me back! I'm unafraid of dying! So do your worst, you useless heap of blood and air! You may have the blood of a demon in you now, but you're still a weak, pathetic human pining after those demons that protect you!”

Despite her anger, Kagome tilted her head, a predatory, amused smile creeping across her lips.

“Care to explain that?”

The others were stunned at this new, brutal trait to the miko who had, to this point, been tame, if angry and dangerous at times.

“First there was Inuyasha, that filthy half-breed that saved your stupid, worthless ass for a long time. Then there's Kouga, though you got an enjoyment out of toying with. Admirable, I admit, but it still goes to my point. And now, there's… that,” she said, pointing at Kagura.

Her hand fell and she broke into a painful coughing fit, blood flowing freely from her wound with each rough jerk.

The group watched Kagome's expression intently. What they saw wasn't reassuring. Finally, though, she responded.

“Well, that was an entertaining thought. Too bad it was your last.”

A strange, green cloud of energy engulfed Kagome's sword, and she brought it down.

“Wind Scar!”

As the youki surged forward, it trapped the poisonous mist with it. The second it hit Kagehime, a last scream was ripped from her, and then her body was completely and utterly dissolved. No trace was left of her, or what had been the town behind her.

The other demons turned to ash, and Kagome slowly slid her blade into its sheath, turning so nobody present could see her face.

The group stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity, everybody staring at Kagome. Finally, Kagura moved, walking to Kagome's front. When she stopped before her, she found Kagome's eyes red-rimmed and staring down at her hands, the pale skin stained black and red.

“Kagome?”

“I've never killed anything with my bare hands,” she said, her voice barely above a hoarse whisper.

“What are you talking about?” Kagura asked, leaning close. “During the tr-”

“I didn't kill him with my bare hands,” Kagome said in a strange, faraway tone. “I purified him with my power, Sango's sword, and Inuyasha's help. I've never killed. Only purified… There's so much blood, Kagura,” she said, her tone becoming more focused as her eyes became startlingly clearer.

Tears began to fall as violent tremors began to take hold of her entire body.

“Is this what Inuyasha had to go through with those bandits?”

“It's okay, Kag-”

“Don't tell me it's okay,” she bit out, her tone cold and detached. “I'm actually a demon… Whatever kind of human I was, I hated violence but just now, I… I just tore one hundred and one living creatures nearly apart with my bare hands, without any mercy whatsoever… Demon or not, they were still beings with feelings… Oh, god…”

Kagome's right hand twitched, and Kagura moved on instinct.

The others stared in shock as the wind sorceress's hand shot out, catching Kagome's wrist just before her suddenly viciously-sharp talons came into her throat.

“Don't,” Kagura said, pulling Kagome's hand away from her throat.

“We should get moving,” Hiei said, starting to walk past the women.

“The smell of blood will most likely draw a lot of attention,” Kurama agreed, moving with a completely silent Botan being pulled along behind her.

Kuwabara and Yusuke both silently assented, ushering Yukina along with them behind their companions.

“We should-”

Kagome's hand shot up, cutting the witch off.

“Let's just… go…” she said, walking past Kagura.

The group walked all through what constituted the rest of the day in Makai, and finally came to rest in a small forest with, conspicuously, a large, clean flowing river.

Despite her irritation, Kagome got the hint and spent the next hour floating in the river, her body slowly losing its taint.

Several times during the thorough drenching, Kagome honestly turned over the idea of drowning herself, but they all ended with the rationalization that if she was going to die, it was going to when, and only when she'd finally ended Naraku's existence once and for all, using the Shikon to make sure he would never come back.

Finally, she decided that she could no longer smell the horrific stench of blood and tissue on her arms, and after one more thorough washing, she got out and went to sleep on the riverbank, knowing that nobody would want her around…

 

Kagome awoke to the sense of something watching her. As she came to full consciousness, she found herself staring up at Kagura, and a strange heat filled her.

“Ummm… Morning?” she said, still not sure if it was day or night.

“Not for a few more hours. I know, it's a strange sense of time after the Ningenkai…”

“Why are you here?” Kagome asked, starting to sit up.

She stopped when she saw the look of hurt that momentarily crossed Kagura's features, guilt hitting her harder than it normally would.

“Sorry. I'm surprised anyone would come near me…”

“Oh, please. Kagome, do you have any idea how many demons I've killed? Your feat last night wasn't even close… Though I have to say that I'm impressed. How'd you know how to kill that bitch?”

“Don't be impressed, Kagura. I killed them. And the only thing I will ever find it justifiable to kill is Naraku. Even if they were demons, they were still only minions that were following either orders or instinct. And either way, the one that leads all of it is Naraku… I transformed, Kagura. I became an actual demon…”

“Kagome, take it from me, the freak who's suffering from lots of new and painful emotions,” Kagura sighed. “Anger is a good motivator. Self-loathing will only add to the anger. But don't take it out on yourself. Save it for the cause of it all. At least, that's what I'm going to do for that bastard. So don't let yourself get suicidal over killing a few mindless pawns and a bitch who tried to kill you on several occasions in the recent past…”

“When did you become the guru?” Kagome asked, eyebrows raised in surprise.

With a smirk, Kagura shrugged.

“Where are the others?” Kagome asked.

Before Kagura could answer, there was the distant sound of splashing water, and they both looked toward the noise to find Yukina and Botan toeing the water, obviously preparing to bathe.

“They went out to look for any leads,” Kagura said as the two got up and prepared to join them.

Their appearance from the trees surprised the other two into falling right into the river with yelps.

“Oh, sorry!” Kagome said between laughs.

Botan came up, glaring at her.

“That was not nice,” she said, pouting.

Yukina came up, completely dry and a small smirk on her face.

“It was kind of funny, Botan.”

“Yukina!” Botan gasped.

“I take it neither of you are disgusted by me,” Kagome said as her mirth finally died down.

“The others were getting a little too… enthused… about hunting, so we came back,” Yukina said as she walked back to the bank.

“Did they find anything?” Kagura asked, joining Kagome and Botan in the water.

“Not while we were there,” Botan said with a huff.

“Well, other than Hiei, I don't think that any of them could drag things out long enough to get anything useful,” Kagome said, staring absentmindedly at her talons.

“Why only Hiei?” Botan asked, curiosity making her speak before she could stop herself.

Kagome noticed Yukina's intense stare as well, and sought reasoning behind her random statement.

“Well… Yusuke's too much of a nice guy to torture, and so's Kuwabara. Kurama might be able to do interrogations and handle demons, but I think he's got slightly more honor than Hiei's. Not that Hiei's dishonorable, I just think he sees a lot more gray areas in things like interrogation. He seems to have that strange kind of cold detachment that professionals have… Not that I'd really know, since he's barely spoken ten words to me since we met.”

“Well, glad to know you think so highly of me,” a deep voice said from above, making all four dive under the water in surprise.

Hiei landed on the riverbank, his entire manner showing that he had no problem showing up while four girls were bathing, and he didn't care about their state of undress.

“So, you're back,” Kagome said, glaring heatedly at him.

“Indeed… We finally found a lead too scared to lie. So get dressed, onnas. We're going as soon as possible.”

And with that, the apparition was gone, leaving four bright scarlet girls glaring at where he'd been…

 

Ten minutes later, and the girls were all dressed, and the team was moving out.

As they left the forest, they were all well aware of the fact that if this lead panned out, then they were heading toward what would be a decidedly drawn-out and painful battle…

 

A/N:

Akumu no Kaze- Wind of Nightmares

Sorry, all readers, for taking so long on this. With a combination of tests, writer's block, and vacation, it has been a long time since I truthfully even remembered about this story. But, I still remember where I was going with it, and I am fully intent on finishing it as I originally planned. So, I hope you enjoyed this, and will continue to enjoy this to the end! See you next time!