InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Intertwined ❯ Confrontation ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: All characters are products of Rumiko Takahashi, and Togashi Yoshihiro's minds, not mine.

 

 

 

 

A/N: I greatly apologize for the lengthy break between chapters. My last commission kicked my butt…then the Muse refused to do any more work for me for a while in favor of sitting back with a glass of tea. [/excuses] I reeeeeally hope that this chapter makes up for it, though it took forever to get it to feel right. Even now, it feels pretty rough to me.

 

So, ON WITH THE ROUGH SHOW!!! (Oh, and sorry about the cliffie) *maniacal snickering* ^_~

 

 

The Intertwined

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

 

 

Rin giggled weakly as she watched Kagome and Sango once again splash each other with the lukewarm water of the spring her lord had found for them that afternoon. The wolf demoness, who Rin had yet to actually get to know, had declined to join them this time with the comment that she would keep her eye on all of the men of their large group while they bathed.

 

As soon as she'd come to wakefulness, Rin had found two women hovering over her; Kagome mixing a broth for their dinner, and Sango wiping down her brow with cold water. She'd scarcely had any other female company before, so it was good to actually have three of them around all at once. Rin only hoped they would stick around for some time before she was surrounded by none but males once again. Oh, she loved her Lord Sesshomaru; he was her world as her surrogate father, but he was still male and was not prone to sit around and talk for the sake of company. Once or twice when she was younger, he had allowed her to string flowers in his unbelievable hair, but she hadn't done that for some time now.

 

The drenching battle between her companions finally ended with Sango the victor by briefly dunking Kagome's dark head under the water. Kagome came back up with her hair slicked back to see Sango already retreating back toward the shore where Rin sat trying to control her giggles. Reaching them shortly with a little laugh of her own, Kagome quickly hoisted herself out of the water onto the smooth stone ridge that held her bag to get her soaps.

 

It had been so long since they had been able to relax, and Kagome for her part couldn't have been in better spirits at the moment. Rin had recovered quickly over one day, though she was still a might weak, so they stole the chance to get in a bath. With the agent frozen out of her body, they had been given the green light to finally take her to bathe in the warm water. It was good to get the girl away from her constant male companionship once in a while; Kagome didn't know how she did it. Sango more often than not was her lifeline when the testosterone level became too much for her.

 

Handing the shampoo over to Sango while she lathered her body soap, Kagome frowned in wonder. Rin looked to be only a couple years away from puberty; she would need some female company at the time to keep from going crazy. She had no idea how she could breach the subject with Sesshomaru, but she would find a way to suggest that the girl would benefit from their continued presence.

 

Kagome put the tea-berry soap down as she ran the lather over her arms. Sango was busy with Rin's unruly hair as she did so, amazed at the coarseness of the poor girl's hair. She wondered at the last time Rin's head had seen a comb. Letting the young girl rinse her hair, Sango then switched for the conditioner when Kagome held it out for her. Slathering the conditioner onto Rin's hair, she worked the strands apart and into order using the product to make it easier.

 

As Sango dunked Rin's head to rinse, she freed the last of the tangles before she and Kagome heard a familiar laugh that caused Sango's spine to tremor with dread. With acute awareness that she and the other two girls were wearing nothing, Sango also became aware of the fact that she had no weapon in her hand. Pulling Rin from the water where she still rinsed her hair, Sango held her tight into her side as she waded quickly to the spot where she'd stashed her sword.

 

Grasping the comforting hilt, she still held Rin beside her naked form as she swung it forward and joined Kagome, who'd also armed herself, to witness the dark shadow appear seemingly out of nowhere. Within the large shadow, a solid body began forming to create the full being that was none other than Naraku.

 

If Kagome hadn't already been focusing her senses on the intruders, she would have been blushing madly at the look she and Sango instantly received from the dark Lord for their state of undress. As it was, she was more focused at the moment on protecting her friends than covering herself, so she stood firm; nudity be damned.

 

Before any of the members of the face-off could say a word, the indignant squawk from Jaken at their adversary's presence broke the momentary silence. Shippo was notably absent; no doubt to inform the rest of their large assembly of what was transpiring if they weren't already on their way.

 

Naraku listened as the little girl tried to hold in her whimpers of fear behind the slayer, but his eyes were drinking in the naked sight he'd not forget any time soon of the two older women trying to shield the young one. Never mind that he was there for the ones doing the shielding, but he could forgive them their misconception since they didn't yet know of his plans for them.

 

“Oh how nobly sweet; you're protecting the young one even when you're so vulnerable already,” he taunted them, disappointed when he got no blushes out of that comment. He paced forward a couple of steps, “It's too bad your noble action means nothing since I most definitely am not here for Sesshomaru's ward,” he slowly leered when that got the reaction he wanted; both older women shifting faintly with uncertainty even as both of their faces scowled at him.

 

Kagome raised her bow and pulled it taut, “Naraku!” she growled, “Stop it with the riddle talk, what are you at now? You may already have over three quarters of the jewel, but you are not getting ours!” she shouted, her bow now held armed and steady at him.

 

Naraku clicked his tongue as though displaying his pity for being way off the mark, “My dear miko; still on the jewel? Do not be as simple as to guess that the jewel alone is capable of supplementing my power any longer,” he spread his arms flamboyantly, “I have become too powerful.”

 

Sango stood two paces behind Kagome in the water with one arm holding Rin behind her and one gripping her sword as her face settled into one of puzzlement, `Naraku is no longer after our shards?' That was one instance she would have adamantly denied would ever happen before his death.

 

The huntress's inner thoughts were interrupted when they were quickly joined by a flash of white belonging to Sesshomaru, who placed himself between Naraku and the water. The others soon joined the party, coming through the tree line to their left and taking positions around them.

 

Ayame immediately ran into the water, “Kagome! Sango! Are you guys okay?!” She asked, reaching Sango and Rin in no time.

 

Sango nodded to Ayame as she waded over to her, “We're okay. He hasn't been here long, but we found out that for some reason he isn't here for the shards,” she said, causing Ayame to look at the object of their detestation, now just as surprised as them at their revelation.

 

“Naraku, your presence has been detected yet you remain. Decidedly unlike you…be aware that whatever your current scheme is, it will not bear fruit,” Sesshomaru said from his position at the front. Inuyasha had placed himself about ten paces from his older half-brother, closer to the shoreline of the steaming lake that had quickly become the center of activity. Drawing the Tetsusaiga, he noted the monk and the fox's positions without taking his amber eyes off of the abomination that was smirking smugly at them all. He hoped Naraku didn't catch the significance in the fact that his sword hardly transformed.

 

“How cute; you've all united into quite the strange pack, yet I still have the upper hand. How unfortunate that soon I will have attained more of that advantage,” he taunted with pompous sneering before cocking his head to look at their latest ally, “And you have new members, too,” he stated obviously while still eyeing Youko, “Tell me…did Kagome include you in the group because of her propensity to take to silver-haired creatures? Or is it those ears that she seems to be so fond of?”

 

Narrowing his eyes at the fool's audacity, he avoided the natural urge to growl at him and with two flicks of his wrist, he had his favorite weapon coiling at his feet, “Do not imply that you would know of all happenings within our ranks,” Youko replied darkly.

 

Naraku could give the lovely fox some credit; he might be quite intimidating if he didn't already have one up on him, “And you, my new adversary, should do the same,” he countered back evenly with a smug look over his stolen features.

 

“Enough,” Sesshomaru said into the tenuous moment, instantly charging on Naraku with his claws already dripping green. Instantly calling his own powers to defend himself against Sesshomaru's attack, he sent several tentacles of questionable origin at him. Not stopping at distracting the dog lord, he sent some out toward the young brother, the new fox, and the wolf as well. Unfortunately, the fox had disappeared toward the water, evading his tentacle easily with something he had to admit he'd never seen before.

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Youko watched from behind Sesshomaru as the fighting began, and reached up for a seed to pull forward the Cape Sundew plant when he saw the tentacle suddenly flying toward him. Infusing the sticky plant with some of his youki, the plant grew to sprout the huge tentacles it was known for and effectively countered the dark hanyou's own tentacle attack.

 

With the tentacles of both parties busy in a tangle and Sesshomaru continuing into a counter attack with a growl, he took off toward the women who still stood in the water, heedless to their naked state in plain view of everyone in favor of defending themselves.

 

He plunged right in, his silk tunic coming to wisp him around in the water as he easily made his way to the rocks lining an edge of the spring. Securing Kagome's bag from the outcropping, he nearly ripped open the thing as he rummaged through it, oddly catching his scent in it as he searched. Finding what he was looking for, he tossed the bag to the rock again as he took one of the tunics he'd found and woofed softly to draw Inuyasha's attention. When he got it, he threw the tunic directly to him. The dog caught it, and immediately understood what it was Youko was getting at as he watched the fox make his way toward the nude forms that Naraku was still leering at.

 

Inuyasha abandoned his position after he dispatched another of the golem's projectiles, and also went straight into the water, reaching Kagome to help her cover up as Youko did the same with Sango. Rin still clung to her with wide eyes, and Youko looked down at the little girl, realizing that he hadn't gotten a scrap of clothing for her. Inuyasha seemed to notice this as well, and stripped his outer fire rat kimono, in turn tossing it to the fox.

 

All three females rightly clothed, Ayame took little Rin and exited the water first to join Jaken and Shippo. Shippo still watched raptly as his companion-mother finally dropped her stance and also trudged toward them with Sango beside her, the males bringing up the rear while watching Naraku's motions.

 

He was still watching them curiously. Naraku and Sesshomaru had been facing off for only a matter of minutes, yet he continued to return his gaze to the women and those accompanying them. Youko caught his red eyes again seek out their location, somewhat darkening when they found him staring back. The look in Naraku's eyes was enough to make him feel oddly overprotective of the women that bastard was watching with such open desire. He'd never seen the guy before today, but the sheer stink of him was enough to hope he never had to suffer being around him again.

 

Continuing to step backwards slowly out of the water, he caught a brief glimpse of the manipulator's form shifting in and out of visibility as it went further back into the tree line behind Naraku. It was clearly up to something.

 

Widening his eyes, he quickly realized what it was that had felt off about the whole fight; they were being herded. Fairly efficiently too, but why, he didn't quite know yet.

 

“Inuyasha, we are being maneuvered to suit his plans. You must pay attention for the manipulator; do not rule out that you would be targeted to host,” he warned evenly, his serious tone setting importance to the white-haired hanyou, “If you are targeted, you must not allow him the room to take root. If this happens, even the brand might not reverse his hold.”

 

Still keeping trained on Naraku, Inuyasha growled, “You could have told us that before, too,” he said quietly, receiving a huff in answer.

 

“It was not relevant at the time; we were in the process of heading that possibility off,” Youko replied before squelching a sharp intake of air when the manipulator finally made its move and materialized only feet in front of them. It took no time to close in and cover the small group of the two women and two males.

 

Youko knew what was coming, and communicated as much quickly, “The manipulator is preparing to transfer someone; prepare yourselves,” he stated, taking note of the fight abruptly ending outside of their position inside the blackness. The vile creature that Sesshomaru had been fighting simply disintegrated on its own. Now everyone seemed to be doing what they could to get to the four of them, but the manipulator's voice carried to those in his grasp in a chuckle.

 

“It would seem that your new friends actually care for your wellbeing, Youko,” Gau said, aware that now his captive would recognize who he was, “Did you neglect to tell them that they would not be able to reach those inside my teleportation abilities unless I wish it?”

 

Standing nearer to the others now, Youko scowled to the voice of the shadow demon, “Gau…I should have known you would do something as foolish as lower your highly desirable position as my right hand only to team yourself with such stench,” he lowered his chin while keeping his eye on the swirling mists shifting around them and smirked, “Have you been trapped this whole time?” he asked, full knowing that he had to have been since Naraku hadn't used him before now. He worried not about antagonizing him; Gau couldn't burn his person without killing the others within his mist, being that he was the only full demon, and doing such a thing was obviously not in his or his hanyou cohort's agenda.

 

Recognizing the hissing from the creature to be indignation, Youko knew he'd been right in his assumption. But before he could fully gloat at such, he and Inuyasha were forcefully expelled away from the two confused women who stood in nothing but tunics, and landed hard at the monk's feet.

 

As she watched both of them sail through the air, Sango fought to keep her developing fear from overriding her fighter's undercoating. She could see Miroku watching on with a pained expression and his hand still fingered his prayer beads anxiously as Gau outright laughed when he felt their mounting fear. Now no one but the two desired women could hear the laughter from him, soon dying down to a trickle. The talking mist that surrounded her and Kagome finally ceased his childish giggling and took a cleansing breath.

 

“Alright then,” he said, before the concerned faces of those she knew began fading from their view, Kagome soon closing in for contact with her now that the others weren't there.

 

Kagome knew she was being a little more clingy than usual at the moment, but she figured she had somewhat of an understandable reason what with the fact that they had essentially been kidnapped.

 

Now, not to say that she was a stranger to the instance by any means, but that thought didn't make the fact that it was happening again any easier to stomach.

 

“Its okay, Kagome. Whatever his plans with us, he will not fulfill his aim. Remember we still have our weapons,” Sango assured her as she lifted her sword to prove her point, fighting herself to keep the panic down. As embarrassing as it might have been, she was grateful that Youko had thought to clothe them when he did; the thought hadn't even crossed her mind after she'd armed herself.

 

“Right,” Kagome replied, adjusting her quiver over her shoulder.

 

“You two do realize I can hear you, right? Shut up; you're giving me a headache,” he snickered at his joke of the fact that he really had no such ability.

 

No sooner had he made his lame joke when the outside world once again became clear to them, revealing that they had been taken to a very large cavern that smelled of corroded metal. Light was scarce, and Sango idly wondered at where it originated from even as she faintly heard water dripping somewhere. There were stone formations everywhere, perhaps they were underground?

 

Her musings were interrupted when she heard the tight gasp come from her sister. She spun around to see what she knew had to be there, “Ahh, Sango. Ever the strategist; always looking for that way out,” he said, revealing himself from around a huge stalagmite jutting out of the ground. Gau floated at his side and Naraku smiled at Sango's answering scowl with a curious light in his red eyes as he then turned to address Kagome, “And the miko…you know Kagome; you have proved to be troublesome with your power growth.”

 

He studied them standing together in their matching hurried clothing of flimsy tunics, barely covering their legs he might add, a moment longer before proceeding with his intentions. Smiling eccentrically, he lifted his arms at his sides, taking in the resulting tension coming from those he'd targeted at the movement. With a swift sweep in their direction, his primary attack of tentacles shot out at the women from his flanks, nearly reaching them before Sango deftly dispatched two while Kagome swatted at the other two with her charged weapon.

 

“Two a piece won't do it, I see. More?” He almost went forward with a second attack when Kagome surprised him with her temper.

 

“Naraku!” Kagome screamed at him, clenching her hand and her bow briefly throwing pink sparks as she did so, “We know you're only toying with us and that you continue to use a replica to do it! How about you throw down my certainty that you have no balls, and face us for once!!” she challenged with fire that had Naraku raising his black brows at her unpredictable language.

 

“Now, now, Kagome; you'll get your chance to play with the real me eventually. Until then, why don't you two show me more of those talents that you've gathered over the years?” This was all the warning they got before more of his swarming arms made it out of his form to assault them again.

 

Their stances shifting to accommodate the larger number of projectiles, Kagome switched flawlessly from charging her bow to loading it with an arrow and firing while Sango slashed away with her sword.

 

Their rival of the last four years stood in place without breaking a sweat, “Are you tired yet? I could go on like this all day long, and it would never get old. However, your dog lord and fox ally have steadily been tracking the power trail you two left behind on your way here,” he said, sliding a look to his last son at his little slip, “Now, shall we continue to my goal?”

 

Closing his eyes to show the women his darkly shadowed lids, he chuckled low before opening his claret eyes slowly, revealing an otherworldly shine now coming from beneath their glassy surface. This confused them slightly; how the doll's eyes could be so lifelike was perplexing to say the least…much less that strange glow coming from them which set them both on higher alert than they already were.

 

His chuckling soon escalated into a low rumble through which the women began to make out a chanting of sorts, right before both of them felt a searing pain exploding in their shoulder. Hissing in pain, Kagome dropped her arrow seconds before hitting to ground on her knees, still clutching her bow in her left hand.

 

Sango watched Kagome fall to the ground with a hole in her shoulder that was filled with an extended finger matching the spike protruding from her own shoulder. Following both fleshy spears coming from hers and Kagome's right shoulders, her eyes landed on the man Kagome had voiced the desire to fight earlier. Sango sneered at him in distaste for touching her, and she switched hands, now holding her sword in her left hand to chop off the offending finger. Naraku stepped from the shadows as he listened to the chanting his golem was reciting. He called in his appendages, and with no effort he rebuilt the one on which Sango had taken out her hostilities.

 

His flawless body whole once more, he adjusted his sight from his fingers to where Kagome was collecting herself from the damp floor of his chosen cave, “Ahh, so you've decided to join us again, Kagome. One would think you two would have felt me over here, but you were foolishly occupied with the falsity of my copy,” he spoke, licking his new fingers clean of any blood that remained.

 

Standing together a good twenty or so feet from Naraku, Kagome heard Sango scoff, “Don't think that your games of intimidation will work on us anymore, Naraku. We know that even though you've shown yourself, you're still a coward,” she spat at him. Dropping the newly repaired hand, he raised his other arm to reprimand her with another tentacle lashed out as a whip. Already poised for such an attack however, she expertly cut it before it could hit her or Kagome, who stood only a step away.

 

He pulled his hand back to its original shape and wasted no time to advance on them while listening to the music of his golem's chanting. They hadn't yet caught on that it was still doing so, but that was indeed understandable; now they were concentrating on him. As it should be.

 

As he began to practically glide closer to them, Kagome took the forward position from around Sango. Grimacing in pain from the hole in her shoulder, she tightened the tension on the string to bring the arrowhead in contact with her finger positioned at the bow, “Don't come closer; you're at what I consider close range, and I know these hurt more than you let on,” He merely quirked a corner of his stolen visage's lips as he continued toward them, “Okay…” she sang, releasing the arrow.

 

Despite her pain at using the weapon, it hit true at his chest. Or would have, had he not surprised them both by catching the arrow in his fist, only to have his hand dissolve instantly from the contact. The arrow fell harmlessly to the floor of the cave, and Naraku hissed in a breath as he rebuilt his hand again.

 

“Mmmm…by all means, fire more,” he purred at them, seemingly enjoying the pain of purification. The chanting in the background abruptly stopped, and Naraku crossed his arms to reach into his sleeves. At his action, Sango had stepped forward and presented her sword. Absurdly, of course; as it would most likely do no good against him.

 

He only looked back at her amusedly as he shot out his hands suddenly, releasing a powdery red mist into their faces. They held their breath instinctively, but once the mist came in contact with their skin, they were rendered to the floor in a cold shutdown.

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Madmiko—Awesome! That interaction came out pretty easy; I loved it too. Yeah, I feel like I've put too much on my plate with all those males, but I'm already stuck. *shrug*

Yue no Rei—My goodness, thank you!! It's good to hear that you think that. The portrayal of the characters is very important to me since the story revolves around them. ^_~

HeartStar—You're welcome! *happy*

Mychelle 79—Don't worry; Youko gets some miko. Be patient on the tang, too; it'll be included before the story's over.

Sam Sama Death—Thank you, I will continue!

Kizuna4me—Here ya go! ^_^

 

 

 

*loves to all!*