InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ 500 Years till Tomorrow ❯ Blood Brothers ( Chapter 6 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: SplendentGoddess 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Action / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.23.2005 | Updated On: 06.13.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 3.7K | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Action / Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.23.2005 | Updated On: 06.13.2006 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 3.7K | Status: Completed
Blanket Disclaimer:
Inuyasha, and the characters therein, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi, or VIZ Productions.
========================
Chapter 6 – Blood Brothers
Seven years after Kikyo’s treachery, Inuyasha still found it haunted his dreams. He had a choice of two actions to take befall him in that instant, neither of which he was quick witted enough to realize, and he cursed himself because of it.
He should have been able to stop Kikyo from tossing Kagome down the well in the first place, but even if he had foreseen it, and still couldn’t prevent the attack, he should have leapt in after her immediately, without his little speech, without taking the time to first reclaim the jewel from Kikyo. If he’d been quick enough, he thought, if he’d been right on her heels, then, he was sure, the well would have still been open. Even without having the Shikon no Tama with him, even with having no way back, and leaving the jewel potentially in the hands of evil, he and Kagome would have been together.
Unable to sleep, he walked outside, his human senses doing him no good on the moonless night. Should an enemy choose this moment to strike, he would fall. Cursing the darkness, he went back inside the hut, and observed his adoptive son Shippo as he slept. Suddenly, Shippo bolted awake, his demonic senses picking up on something Inuyasha would have normally sensed even before he did.
“What is it kid?”
“Papa Inuyasha! I smell a toad youkai!”
“Keh, did you say a toad?” and with that, there was a hastened wrap at the door, followed by the shrieked sound of Jaken’s voice proclaiming he knows Inuyasha dwells within this hut, and to answer the door immediately; he sounded panic stricken.
Inuyasha grudgingly walked towards the door, and was about to answer it when Shippo quietly reminded him of his condition, and Shippo took his place opening the door to see what Jaken wanted. Shippo had grown tremendously in the last decade, and resembled very much a redheaded Kohaku from seven years prior, except perhaps even taller. He had also gotten much tougher, thanks to Inuyasha’s fatherly training.
“What do you want?” he asked, peering down at the imp whom he now towered over.
“Why you! I have nothing to say to you! Where is Inuyasha?”
“I can hear you, state your business.” He said calmly, from an out-of-sight corner of the hut.
“L-L-Lord Sesshomaru’s realm is under attack!”
“And this affects me how?”
“You ungrateful brat! Sesshomaru is your only living family.”
“Not that he’d admit it, I find it hard to believe he sent you here.”
“He, he doesn’t know I’m here! Please Lord Inuyasha!”
“Keh, Lord?”
“If….if Lord Sesshomaru falls, then you shall rein in his place!”
“What?”
“Oh I get it,” Shippo chimed in, having stood between the two throughout their conversation. “Sesshomaru is the oldest brother, so he became lord when their father died, but he doesn’t have any children of his own yet, so if he dies….”
“Keh, well then he’d better get to fathering an heir ‘cause I sure as hell ain’t no lord.”
“That’s for sure!” piped Jaken.
“What do you think?” Shippo asked, turning to Inuyasha. “He is your brother, and it is your father’s realm.”
“Keh, I suppose the bastard was decent enough when we passed each other by last year, didn’t pick a fight or nothing.”
“And” Shippo reminded, “He helped with Naraku….and saved Kohaku…..”
“Keh, yeah.”
“So….so you’ll help us?”
“We’ll head out first thing in the morning.”
“But the war wages as we speak!”
“Keh, I couldn’t help him now even if I wanted to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Inuyasha decided to take a chance, and show the imp, if for nothing more, than a sign that he did hear what he’d said, about them being brothers. But he truly couldn’t help now, not now. Open jawed, Jaken stared at the human version of Inuyasha before him. No wonder Jaken smelled a human in there. He’d just figured, since he was allies with the village, that humans had visited him, or something.
“I’m sure Sesshomaru will find me, and Tetsusaiga, quite useless to him until sunup.”
Suddenly a voice came from over head, damn his human senses, he hadn’t smelled her approach.
“Master Jaken! There you are! Lord Sesshomaru sent Ah-Un and I to find you. Why did you abandon the fight?” The girl questioned, as she landed the two-headed dragon and made her way over towards the cowering imp. Was this girl Rin? Inuyasha hadn’t seen her in years, not since she was a small child. But she was quite grown now, appearing to be around 16 or so, looking very much like how he remembered his precious Kagome. Except of course, for all of the battle wounds she had. Her legs were scratched and bleeding, she had claw marks on her arms, nearly half of her clothing was slashed off, and she wielded a sword, as well as a bow and arrows.
“Master Jaken! We must return, they’re taking the castle!”
“The castle?” Inuyasha never imagined the battle had actually gotten itself to his father’s castle. Not since the Panther demons was there such a threat to the Inu ban.
Grabbing Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha walked past Jaken, stating “I’m going” as he proceeded to climb upon Ah-Un.
“Then I’m going too!” proclaimed Shippo, as he bound out of the hut.
“N-Now hold on! No one said you could go!”
“Listen you, I’m Inuyasha’s son now, so that means, if Sesshomaru and Inuyasha die in this battle, I’m your new Lord, got that?”
“H-Hai!” stumbled the imp, as he climbed himself up onto Ah-Un, gripping his staff for fear of dropping it, he hated flying. Shippo transformed himself into a bird and flew along side the others.
Upon seeing the battle field, Inuyasha realized the barrier over his father’s castle had fallen, and the grounds were in plain sight, as Sesshomaru stood in the center of dead demons, while more approached from all directions.
“It is the South trying to claim our lands.” Stated Rin.
“Shippo….” Commanded Inuyasha, “….go back, go and get Kohaku and Kirara, we’ll need them.”
“Hai.” Was all that was heard as the large sea bird Shippo’d become quickly turned tail, soaring back in the direction from wince it came.
Not quickly enough, however, for Sesshomaru to miss detecting his scent, and as he looked up from his fight to spot Ah-Un and his passengers, he muttered “Jaken, what is the meaning of your desertion?”
“F-Forgive me M’Lord, but I have fetched Inuyasha, t-t-this was, after all, his father’s realm as well.” He finished, gulping.
Sesshomaru spied the human Inuyasha, never before had he witnessed his half-brother’s time of weakness, though he was aware that, being a hanyou, he had such a time.
“Jaken, your foolishness adds nothing but a body to the field, he is useless.”
“F-Forgive me M’Lord!” as Jaken resumed his post in battle, destroying the few demons he could with his staff of two heads.
“I’ll show you useless!” Inuyasha bellowed, as he joined in the attack, a temporarily normal katana as his weapon.
But it’s been many years since the last time Sesshomaru had witnessed Inuyasha in battle, and he no longer swung Tetsusaiga like a hammer, but in fact, was a rather good swordsman. As was Rin, whom Inuyasha observed in battle along side Sesshomaru. He’d taught her well, as she’d fire off an arrow in between slashing with her katana. She was not a miko, and therefore did not possess sacred arrows, but nonetheless, she was an expert shot, and was able to defeat several of the lesser demons, while Sesshomaru concentrated on their master. Inuyasha knew he was truly in no shape to attempt to battle the leader of this group, for he was a giant tiger youkai, comparable in size to their father’s true form. Sesshomaru battled in his humanoid form, using the powers of Tokijin. The tiger lord mocked Sesshomaru for not being able to battle in his true form, what with missing an arm. Inuyasha was actually surprised with himself when he felt a twinge of guilt for the wound he’d inflicted on his older brother, realizing it might prove his undoing. Inuyasha helped Sesshomaru best he could by keeping the minions at bay, along side Rin, Jaken, and other allies of Sesshomaru, which Inuyasha realized, included Kagura. She’d surprised him, he of course not being able to smell her presence or anything, and acknowledged him with a quick “Welcome to the party.” Inuyasha then observed momentarily, as Kagura, from above on her large feather, continued with aerial strikes against those who’d dare breech the castle walls. Simultaneously, she used her Dance of the Dead on the fallen bodies of lesser demons, to increase their low numbers in this battle.
The tiger youkai lord was fierce, standing taller than the trees. He slashed with his claws, crescent blades of energy flying from his finger tips, destroying all they touched. Sesshomaru was successfully dodging his attacks, but was not able to retaliate with many of his own. When he was able to get a shot out with Tokijin, the tiger would also then, successfully dodge the energy wave. A piercing scream hurt even Inuyasha’s human ears, as he turned quickly to see that Rin had fallen. But before he could say a word….
“M’Lord, Rin has fallen again!” and with that, Sesshomaru quickly drew his other sword, slashing in Rin’s direction.
In the second his attention was elsewhere, the tiger youkai successfully struck the inu lord with a portion of the blades he’d sent his way, when Sesshomaru took a fraction of a second too long to successfully dodge them all. Lashing at a few nearby trees with his light whip, using them as a distraction, he retreated to a more suitable distance, while quickly shifting his gaze back to Rin. The power of Tenseiga had revived her, but unfortunately, since Sesshomaru was lacking the proper time to aim, the broader sweep also revived the youkai that were near her proximity. Rin awoke hastily attempting to reach for her sword before the youkai took her down again, but it appeared they would reach her before she did her blade, until a large boomerang forged from demon bones swooped through the air, destroying the youkai. Rin looked up to see a young man, flying atop a youkai neko. The scene looked somewhat familiar to her, for some reason.
“Kohaku!” Inuyasha cried, “Just in time!”
Kohaku? That man, was that boy from before? My, how time has passed, both Rin, and Sesshomaru thought to themselves.
“You okay?” he called down to Rin.
“Hai!” she called back, before resuming her battle stance. Kohaku leapt from Kirara, allowing her to continue with her own aerial strikes, as she clawed and bit at the lesser cat demons that dared attack her friends. They, in their human shapes, with puny weapons, were no match for the mighty Kirara in all her glory. Kohaku joined the battle on the ground, armed not only with his own Hiraikotsu, but also a sword, a chained sickle, and a bag of poisons. Though he had become a doctor in his village, Sango had also completed his demon exterminator training as well, and when the need arose, he would embark on an exterminating expedition; anything to help save lives.
Shippo, having returned as well, also now joined in the fight, not the scared little kid he used to be. True, his only real powers were based on illusion, but he could put them to good use when he focused his mind. Picking up a weapon from one of the fallen cat-people, Shippo transformed himself to look like the dead creature, and blended in with the third line that was approaching the brunt of the action. From within, he slyly cut down several youkai, cat-people, as well as other allies of the South, before he was discovered. Whenever he became discovered within the ranks, he simply used one of his old “toy” weapons, such as the spinning top, to provide him the necessarily moment of distraction to escape.
Dawn was approaching, and Inuyasha could feel his youkai blood again begin to flow within his veins. Not a moment too soon, as Sesshomaru appeared to be slowly loosing the main battle with the head youkai. The lord of the south had Sesshomaru aggravated enough that he’d simi-transformed, his eyes blazing red, and his jaw distorted into more of a canine muzzle shape, as he snarled, baring his fangs. He still used his sword, slashing skillfully with Tokijin, while somehow simultaneously releasing a light whip from the fingers that clasped the demonic blade. He was exhausted, and wounded, and needed help to defeat this enemy. In an instant, sunlight cracked over the horizon, and Inuyasha’s youki pulsed within his body, transforming him back into his hanyou state.
The now responsive Tetsusaiga instantly transformed as well, into their father’s fang, and Inuyasha joined his older brother against their family’s enemy.
“Little brother, this is my fight.” He choked out, proud as ever.
“Keh, didn’t hear you complain before, when I was a useless body.”
Sesshomaru spoke not another word, apparently accepting the assistance, albeit reluctantly, for if he loathed one thing more than his half-brother Inuyasha, it was the thought of loosing their father’s land to the enemy. Inuyasha used his Wind Scar attack, which the tiger lord promptly spat back at him with a swipe of his claws, but he was expecting it, and in return, launched his Backlash Wave attack. Sesshomaru, though he would never admit it, was slightly impressed by Inuyasha’s show of power, and he cooled himself enough to revert back to his normal appearance. The tiger was surprised to say the least. It was an insult to be injured by a hanyou, so he doubled his efforts. The sight of him increasing his attacks let Inuyasha and Sesshomaru know that he was scared, considered them a threat; that was a good thing. Some of the tiger’s allies had begun to retreat in defeat at the constant attacks of Jaken, Rin, Kagura, Kohaku, Kirara and Shippo, as well as other misc. allies of the west. Now, though there were a few loyal lesser tiger demons still present, Kagura and Kohaku also joined in the effort against their lord. Shippo had successfully gotten a few of the demons to attack each other, each believing the other to be the fox, and he also used a multiplication spell to cast repeated images of Rin to save her from an immanent attack he couldn’t reach in time to prevent physically. The momentary confusion allowed her to attack in return, killing the threat. Twice, Jaken had died, leaping in front of what could possibly have been a fatal blow for his lord, and twice, Sesshomaru used Tenseiga to restore him. Annoying as the imp was, he was loyal. Turned out, Inuyasha had a loyal follower as well. Distracted momentarily by the screams of Jaken falling a third time, Inuyasha was caught off guard, and was nearly slashed down himself, until a hysterically vengeful fox demon, transformed for the first time ever in his true fox appearance, screamed “Not another father!” at the top of his lungs, shoving Inuyasha out of the way, just in time to receive the blunt of the tiger’s crescent blades attack.
“NO! SHIPPO!” Inuyasha screamed…..
That was it, though he held Tetsusaiga firmly, he was still beginning to see red. Sesshomaru watched in amazement as the fang transformed itself into a crystalline blade. He’d witnessed Inuyasha’s Diamond Spears attack before, but never with such fury. Severely wounding the tiger lord, Inuyasha calmed himself back down, eyes returning to their natural yellow. Sesshomaru now had a moment to spare, with their enemy temporarily weakened, and with a single swipe of Tenseiga, revived, yet again, the amphibious imp Jaken. Sesshomaru paused for a moment, staring at the body of a fox Inuyasha knelt before, then, without words, used Tenseiga to revive him as well. He watched as Shippo regained his human appearance, and looking up at the western lord in amazement, thanked him humbly. The tiger attempted to regain his strength, but was being bombarded with Kohaku’s Hiraikotsu as well as Kagura’s Dance of Blades attack. Quickly switching swords again, an act Sesshomaru managed to do quite effortlessly, despite having only one arm, he swung Tokijin at the youkai lord, this time, with the continual acts of their allies inhibiting his ability for quick recovery, Sesshomaru’s attack nearly finished him off. Not shifting his gaze from his opponent, Sesshomaru spoke four words to his younger brother, the same words he’d used when they battled the panther lord, “Finish him with Tetsusaiga.”
Another mighty swing released the largest yet of his Wind Scar attacks, causing the tiger to scream in pain, as his body was swept away with the energy blast, disintegrating into nothingness. The few lesser demons that remained alive all ran in retreat. Their realm had to select a new ruler now, and was greatly decreased in numbers; they would not be a threat again for several centuries.
Shippo, unable to contain the sheer joy he felt that his father was still alive, caught Inuyasha off guard in an emotional hug, proclaiming “You did it!”
He “Keh”ed in return, stating “Hardly, it was a group effort.”
And to Sesshomaru’s amazement, Inuyasha actually bowed his head, ever so slightly, towards his older brother. Maybe it was due to years of raising Shippo as a son, training and teaching him, that forced Inuyasha to mature himself. Sesshomaru had heard the rumors of what had happened on that day. He couldn't honestly imagine what it must have been like, raising his Miko's kit by himself, being constantly reminded of the mate he'd lost.
Sesshomaru was suddenly torn from his ponderings upon noticing Inuyasha hiss in pain slightly at a sudden misplaced touch by the kitsune. A few times during the battle, Inuyasha had been grazed by a stray crescent blade, just as Sesshomaru had, but he would take longer to heal, being only half demon.
As Sesshomaru began to walk towards the entrance to his castle, he uttered something that invoked shocked expressions from all others present.
“Inuyasha, come, my servants will tend to your wounds.”
Inuyasha, and the characters therein, are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi, or VIZ Productions.
========================
Chapter 6 – Blood Brothers
Seven years after Kikyo’s treachery, Inuyasha still found it haunted his dreams. He had a choice of two actions to take befall him in that instant, neither of which he was quick witted enough to realize, and he cursed himself because of it.
He should have been able to stop Kikyo from tossing Kagome down the well in the first place, but even if he had foreseen it, and still couldn’t prevent the attack, he should have leapt in after her immediately, without his little speech, without taking the time to first reclaim the jewel from Kikyo. If he’d been quick enough, he thought, if he’d been right on her heels, then, he was sure, the well would have still been open. Even without having the Shikon no Tama with him, even with having no way back, and leaving the jewel potentially in the hands of evil, he and Kagome would have been together.
Unable to sleep, he walked outside, his human senses doing him no good on the moonless night. Should an enemy choose this moment to strike, he would fall. Cursing the darkness, he went back inside the hut, and observed his adoptive son Shippo as he slept. Suddenly, Shippo bolted awake, his demonic senses picking up on something Inuyasha would have normally sensed even before he did.
“What is it kid?”
“Papa Inuyasha! I smell a toad youkai!”
“Keh, did you say a toad?” and with that, there was a hastened wrap at the door, followed by the shrieked sound of Jaken’s voice proclaiming he knows Inuyasha dwells within this hut, and to answer the door immediately; he sounded panic stricken.
Inuyasha grudgingly walked towards the door, and was about to answer it when Shippo quietly reminded him of his condition, and Shippo took his place opening the door to see what Jaken wanted. Shippo had grown tremendously in the last decade, and resembled very much a redheaded Kohaku from seven years prior, except perhaps even taller. He had also gotten much tougher, thanks to Inuyasha’s fatherly training.
“What do you want?” he asked, peering down at the imp whom he now towered over.
“Why you! I have nothing to say to you! Where is Inuyasha?”
“I can hear you, state your business.” He said calmly, from an out-of-sight corner of the hut.
“L-L-Lord Sesshomaru’s realm is under attack!”
“And this affects me how?”
“You ungrateful brat! Sesshomaru is your only living family.”
“Not that he’d admit it, I find it hard to believe he sent you here.”
“He, he doesn’t know I’m here! Please Lord Inuyasha!”
“Keh, Lord?”
“If….if Lord Sesshomaru falls, then you shall rein in his place!”
“What?”
“Oh I get it,” Shippo chimed in, having stood between the two throughout their conversation. “Sesshomaru is the oldest brother, so he became lord when their father died, but he doesn’t have any children of his own yet, so if he dies….”
“Keh, well then he’d better get to fathering an heir ‘cause I sure as hell ain’t no lord.”
“That’s for sure!” piped Jaken.
“What do you think?” Shippo asked, turning to Inuyasha. “He is your brother, and it is your father’s realm.”
“Keh, I suppose the bastard was decent enough when we passed each other by last year, didn’t pick a fight or nothing.”
“And” Shippo reminded, “He helped with Naraku….and saved Kohaku…..”
“Keh, yeah.”
“So….so you’ll help us?”
“We’ll head out first thing in the morning.”
“But the war wages as we speak!”
“Keh, I couldn’t help him now even if I wanted to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Inuyasha decided to take a chance, and show the imp, if for nothing more, than a sign that he did hear what he’d said, about them being brothers. But he truly couldn’t help now, not now. Open jawed, Jaken stared at the human version of Inuyasha before him. No wonder Jaken smelled a human in there. He’d just figured, since he was allies with the village, that humans had visited him, or something.
“I’m sure Sesshomaru will find me, and Tetsusaiga, quite useless to him until sunup.”
Suddenly a voice came from over head, damn his human senses, he hadn’t smelled her approach.
“Master Jaken! There you are! Lord Sesshomaru sent Ah-Un and I to find you. Why did you abandon the fight?” The girl questioned, as she landed the two-headed dragon and made her way over towards the cowering imp. Was this girl Rin? Inuyasha hadn’t seen her in years, not since she was a small child. But she was quite grown now, appearing to be around 16 or so, looking very much like how he remembered his precious Kagome. Except of course, for all of the battle wounds she had. Her legs were scratched and bleeding, she had claw marks on her arms, nearly half of her clothing was slashed off, and she wielded a sword, as well as a bow and arrows.
“Master Jaken! We must return, they’re taking the castle!”
“The castle?” Inuyasha never imagined the battle had actually gotten itself to his father’s castle. Not since the Panther demons was there such a threat to the Inu ban.
Grabbing Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha walked past Jaken, stating “I’m going” as he proceeded to climb upon Ah-Un.
“Then I’m going too!” proclaimed Shippo, as he bound out of the hut.
“N-Now hold on! No one said you could go!”
“Listen you, I’m Inuyasha’s son now, so that means, if Sesshomaru and Inuyasha die in this battle, I’m your new Lord, got that?”
“H-Hai!” stumbled the imp, as he climbed himself up onto Ah-Un, gripping his staff for fear of dropping it, he hated flying. Shippo transformed himself into a bird and flew along side the others.
Upon seeing the battle field, Inuyasha realized the barrier over his father’s castle had fallen, and the grounds were in plain sight, as Sesshomaru stood in the center of dead demons, while more approached from all directions.
“It is the South trying to claim our lands.” Stated Rin.
“Shippo….” Commanded Inuyasha, “….go back, go and get Kohaku and Kirara, we’ll need them.”
“Hai.” Was all that was heard as the large sea bird Shippo’d become quickly turned tail, soaring back in the direction from wince it came.
Not quickly enough, however, for Sesshomaru to miss detecting his scent, and as he looked up from his fight to spot Ah-Un and his passengers, he muttered “Jaken, what is the meaning of your desertion?”
“F-Forgive me M’Lord, but I have fetched Inuyasha, t-t-this was, after all, his father’s realm as well.” He finished, gulping.
Sesshomaru spied the human Inuyasha, never before had he witnessed his half-brother’s time of weakness, though he was aware that, being a hanyou, he had such a time.
“Jaken, your foolishness adds nothing but a body to the field, he is useless.”
“F-Forgive me M’Lord!” as Jaken resumed his post in battle, destroying the few demons he could with his staff of two heads.
“I’ll show you useless!” Inuyasha bellowed, as he joined in the attack, a temporarily normal katana as his weapon.
But it’s been many years since the last time Sesshomaru had witnessed Inuyasha in battle, and he no longer swung Tetsusaiga like a hammer, but in fact, was a rather good swordsman. As was Rin, whom Inuyasha observed in battle along side Sesshomaru. He’d taught her well, as she’d fire off an arrow in between slashing with her katana. She was not a miko, and therefore did not possess sacred arrows, but nonetheless, she was an expert shot, and was able to defeat several of the lesser demons, while Sesshomaru concentrated on their master. Inuyasha knew he was truly in no shape to attempt to battle the leader of this group, for he was a giant tiger youkai, comparable in size to their father’s true form. Sesshomaru battled in his humanoid form, using the powers of Tokijin. The tiger lord mocked Sesshomaru for not being able to battle in his true form, what with missing an arm. Inuyasha was actually surprised with himself when he felt a twinge of guilt for the wound he’d inflicted on his older brother, realizing it might prove his undoing. Inuyasha helped Sesshomaru best he could by keeping the minions at bay, along side Rin, Jaken, and other allies of Sesshomaru, which Inuyasha realized, included Kagura. She’d surprised him, he of course not being able to smell her presence or anything, and acknowledged him with a quick “Welcome to the party.” Inuyasha then observed momentarily, as Kagura, from above on her large feather, continued with aerial strikes against those who’d dare breech the castle walls. Simultaneously, she used her Dance of the Dead on the fallen bodies of lesser demons, to increase their low numbers in this battle.
The tiger youkai lord was fierce, standing taller than the trees. He slashed with his claws, crescent blades of energy flying from his finger tips, destroying all they touched. Sesshomaru was successfully dodging his attacks, but was not able to retaliate with many of his own. When he was able to get a shot out with Tokijin, the tiger would also then, successfully dodge the energy wave. A piercing scream hurt even Inuyasha’s human ears, as he turned quickly to see that Rin had fallen. But before he could say a word….
“M’Lord, Rin has fallen again!” and with that, Sesshomaru quickly drew his other sword, slashing in Rin’s direction.
In the second his attention was elsewhere, the tiger youkai successfully struck the inu lord with a portion of the blades he’d sent his way, when Sesshomaru took a fraction of a second too long to successfully dodge them all. Lashing at a few nearby trees with his light whip, using them as a distraction, he retreated to a more suitable distance, while quickly shifting his gaze back to Rin. The power of Tenseiga had revived her, but unfortunately, since Sesshomaru was lacking the proper time to aim, the broader sweep also revived the youkai that were near her proximity. Rin awoke hastily attempting to reach for her sword before the youkai took her down again, but it appeared they would reach her before she did her blade, until a large boomerang forged from demon bones swooped through the air, destroying the youkai. Rin looked up to see a young man, flying atop a youkai neko. The scene looked somewhat familiar to her, for some reason.
“Kohaku!” Inuyasha cried, “Just in time!”
Kohaku? That man, was that boy from before? My, how time has passed, both Rin, and Sesshomaru thought to themselves.
“You okay?” he called down to Rin.
“Hai!” she called back, before resuming her battle stance. Kohaku leapt from Kirara, allowing her to continue with her own aerial strikes, as she clawed and bit at the lesser cat demons that dared attack her friends. They, in their human shapes, with puny weapons, were no match for the mighty Kirara in all her glory. Kohaku joined the battle on the ground, armed not only with his own Hiraikotsu, but also a sword, a chained sickle, and a bag of poisons. Though he had become a doctor in his village, Sango had also completed his demon exterminator training as well, and when the need arose, he would embark on an exterminating expedition; anything to help save lives.
Shippo, having returned as well, also now joined in the fight, not the scared little kid he used to be. True, his only real powers were based on illusion, but he could put them to good use when he focused his mind. Picking up a weapon from one of the fallen cat-people, Shippo transformed himself to look like the dead creature, and blended in with the third line that was approaching the brunt of the action. From within, he slyly cut down several youkai, cat-people, as well as other allies of the South, before he was discovered. Whenever he became discovered within the ranks, he simply used one of his old “toy” weapons, such as the spinning top, to provide him the necessarily moment of distraction to escape.
Dawn was approaching, and Inuyasha could feel his youkai blood again begin to flow within his veins. Not a moment too soon, as Sesshomaru appeared to be slowly loosing the main battle with the head youkai. The lord of the south had Sesshomaru aggravated enough that he’d simi-transformed, his eyes blazing red, and his jaw distorted into more of a canine muzzle shape, as he snarled, baring his fangs. He still used his sword, slashing skillfully with Tokijin, while somehow simultaneously releasing a light whip from the fingers that clasped the demonic blade. He was exhausted, and wounded, and needed help to defeat this enemy. In an instant, sunlight cracked over the horizon, and Inuyasha’s youki pulsed within his body, transforming him back into his hanyou state.
The now responsive Tetsusaiga instantly transformed as well, into their father’s fang, and Inuyasha joined his older brother against their family’s enemy.
“Little brother, this is my fight.” He choked out, proud as ever.
“Keh, didn’t hear you complain before, when I was a useless body.”
Sesshomaru spoke not another word, apparently accepting the assistance, albeit reluctantly, for if he loathed one thing more than his half-brother Inuyasha, it was the thought of loosing their father’s land to the enemy. Inuyasha used his Wind Scar attack, which the tiger lord promptly spat back at him with a swipe of his claws, but he was expecting it, and in return, launched his Backlash Wave attack. Sesshomaru, though he would never admit it, was slightly impressed by Inuyasha’s show of power, and he cooled himself enough to revert back to his normal appearance. The tiger was surprised to say the least. It was an insult to be injured by a hanyou, so he doubled his efforts. The sight of him increasing his attacks let Inuyasha and Sesshomaru know that he was scared, considered them a threat; that was a good thing. Some of the tiger’s allies had begun to retreat in defeat at the constant attacks of Jaken, Rin, Kagura, Kohaku, Kirara and Shippo, as well as other misc. allies of the west. Now, though there were a few loyal lesser tiger demons still present, Kagura and Kohaku also joined in the effort against their lord. Shippo had successfully gotten a few of the demons to attack each other, each believing the other to be the fox, and he also used a multiplication spell to cast repeated images of Rin to save her from an immanent attack he couldn’t reach in time to prevent physically. The momentary confusion allowed her to attack in return, killing the threat. Twice, Jaken had died, leaping in front of what could possibly have been a fatal blow for his lord, and twice, Sesshomaru used Tenseiga to restore him. Annoying as the imp was, he was loyal. Turned out, Inuyasha had a loyal follower as well. Distracted momentarily by the screams of Jaken falling a third time, Inuyasha was caught off guard, and was nearly slashed down himself, until a hysterically vengeful fox demon, transformed for the first time ever in his true fox appearance, screamed “Not another father!” at the top of his lungs, shoving Inuyasha out of the way, just in time to receive the blunt of the tiger’s crescent blades attack.
“NO! SHIPPO!” Inuyasha screamed…..
That was it, though he held Tetsusaiga firmly, he was still beginning to see red. Sesshomaru watched in amazement as the fang transformed itself into a crystalline blade. He’d witnessed Inuyasha’s Diamond Spears attack before, but never with such fury. Severely wounding the tiger lord, Inuyasha calmed himself back down, eyes returning to their natural yellow. Sesshomaru now had a moment to spare, with their enemy temporarily weakened, and with a single swipe of Tenseiga, revived, yet again, the amphibious imp Jaken. Sesshomaru paused for a moment, staring at the body of a fox Inuyasha knelt before, then, without words, used Tenseiga to revive him as well. He watched as Shippo regained his human appearance, and looking up at the western lord in amazement, thanked him humbly. The tiger attempted to regain his strength, but was being bombarded with Kohaku’s Hiraikotsu as well as Kagura’s Dance of Blades attack. Quickly switching swords again, an act Sesshomaru managed to do quite effortlessly, despite having only one arm, he swung Tokijin at the youkai lord, this time, with the continual acts of their allies inhibiting his ability for quick recovery, Sesshomaru’s attack nearly finished him off. Not shifting his gaze from his opponent, Sesshomaru spoke four words to his younger brother, the same words he’d used when they battled the panther lord, “Finish him with Tetsusaiga.”
Another mighty swing released the largest yet of his Wind Scar attacks, causing the tiger to scream in pain, as his body was swept away with the energy blast, disintegrating into nothingness. The few lesser demons that remained alive all ran in retreat. Their realm had to select a new ruler now, and was greatly decreased in numbers; they would not be a threat again for several centuries.
Shippo, unable to contain the sheer joy he felt that his father was still alive, caught Inuyasha off guard in an emotional hug, proclaiming “You did it!”
He “Keh”ed in return, stating “Hardly, it was a group effort.”
And to Sesshomaru’s amazement, Inuyasha actually bowed his head, ever so slightly, towards his older brother. Maybe it was due to years of raising Shippo as a son, training and teaching him, that forced Inuyasha to mature himself. Sesshomaru had heard the rumors of what had happened on that day. He couldn't honestly imagine what it must have been like, raising his Miko's kit by himself, being constantly reminded of the mate he'd lost.
Sesshomaru was suddenly torn from his ponderings upon noticing Inuyasha hiss in pain slightly at a sudden misplaced touch by the kitsune. A few times during the battle, Inuyasha had been grazed by a stray crescent blade, just as Sesshomaru had, but he would take longer to heal, being only half demon.
As Sesshomaru began to walk towards the entrance to his castle, he uttered something that invoked shocked expressions from all others present.
“Inuyasha, come, my servants will tend to your wounds.”