InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Absolution ❯ Collateral ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and the Inu-taichi don't belong to me. They belong to the mangaka, Takahashi Rumiko. I own only Kigatsuku.

A/N: well one more chapter, heh? I see that you quite enjoyed the last one (FFnet). Well, I'll tell you this. This chapter was the one I had the most fun writing. Not that it's funny. Not at all.
I thought I was going to end it sooner, but yesterday I went to a concert and got drunk in both buzz and alcohol and well, I couldn't quite finish it in that state. Anyways, I think this will surprise you. It surprised me!

 

Collateral

 

I'll never be a saint
That's not a picture
That your memory paints
Not renowned for my patience
I'm not renowned for my restraint

Depeche Mode- The sinner in me

Warnings: Dark, Gore and Angst.

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Ten minutes passed since Jinenji had gotten in. Kagome fiddled with her skirt's hem, apprehensively.

It wasn't just hat protective barrier that was messing with her precious reiki. No. It was something more, something from inside was pulling her in. And the more she wanted to go after Jinenji into the depths of the crimson shield, the more she wanted to get back, and retract, almost with a painful will to retch, and heave her stomach's content out, the pressure in her aura was almost excruciating.

Coiling in the wall where she'd chosen to wait for Jinenji, the brunette beauty admired the view from across the street where a café stood very shy and almost hidden in structure, and then as if to affirm it's presence perforated by an all-wall window where people could be seen talking languorously, they almost seemed to move in slow motion. Or was it she? Was she slowing? A big truck crossed the road with impious velocity and it shook her out of her musings.

Holding Jinenji's-kun protective dark jacket over Inuyasha's cold shirt she repressed a melancholic sigh and leaned against the wall, leisurely passing her own nimble fingers through her own hair to disentangle it, since it had flown everywhere with the truck's rush, prepared to see those same lazy people lounging in the café.

However when she once again looked at the source of her curiosity she was overwhelmed by surprise when the auras surrounding those same lazy persons threw colorful, big shadows in the walls, ceiling, the street, as if in an ocean of warmth and coldness, different scents, different musing- all converging in its own color. She shook her head and closed her eyes harshly, pinching the bridge of her nose. When she opened them it was worse, the shadows crisped around the figures ,much smaller than the colorful shades, they moved restlessly as if searching, contrasting in perfection with its own figure.

Somehow she knew each one of them, which sat there, had one. She didn't knew how but somehow she even knew details if she found herself focusing on the swirl of colors. One was anxious, other was tired… They all seemed edgy and it made her wonder: seeing the yellow of the second guy in the counter change to orange as if someone had just lit a match, and the pink shadow that was strangely shaped like a dog, or a wolf, of the redheaded waitress turned duller. Was she nuts? Had she finally gone hoo-hoo?

She had never been to Ota, and now as if in a revelation, all the buildings, even the cheerful shops where she and Jinenji had gone after lunch, even that small restaurant, they now seemed oppressive along with all the other structures, the other houses and edifices, if they're closing on her all with that same powerful feeling that tried to crush her and that came from the houkenikken.

Auras? Youkai auras, nonetheless! How was it that she was suddenly able to feel them, their inner turmoil, and deeper feelings? It was as if she had an open window in her chest and all that unexpected information was entering. It was unbearable.

She forgot everything - and ran.

Kagome didn't know this ward, she didn't know the streets (Jinenji-kun had been guiding her). What she indeed knew was that she wanted to get away from this oppressive buildings and youki that were trying to get inside her, fill her, and make her explode. Why was she receiving them all of a sudden? She'd always been sensitive to races, and feelings. But she had never actually seen them; she had never actually been sure that what she through she felt was real, because she could see them. She had seen the passionate rose in the café… the contempt and relaxing green of a child walking around her parent's seats.

She didn't understand it, and she didn't want to be overwhelmed like she was sure she was going to be as soon as she got closer or if she stayed just a minute longer.

How, she didn't know but it was as if her mind had been manipulated and she found herself in an empty small street with its exit covered in bricks. A dead end.

However in the back of her mind there was something that stimulated her to continue, the urge almost made her feet move again, absentmindedly, a little too lost in all of this, she wondered if she was indeed being manipulated and if that power was entering through the same window that had opened.

Too late to think now. Two dark tinged auras appeared from the shadows. One in front of her, maybe three feet away, the other was in the entry of the thin street, maybe eight feet away. She considered running, but there was no escape, and when the owner of the dark soul in front of her walked closer, and out of the shadows, the first thing she noticed was a cruel mannerism, stretching her thin villainess lips.

Then she stepped completely out of the dark and a Kagome was confronted with a woman, thinner and taller than she, wearing a lavender dress to her feet, blue hair swirling around her form, the cruel malicious smile never vanished. She also felt the presence behind her step closer and then, the scared woman was surprised by a long bow from the blue-haired demoness.

When she got up she smiled and came even closer.

“Hime no miko” Kagome frowned and gave a step to the right to try and run from these two so much oppressive feeling, it was black perforating white and she was beginning to feel nauseous. Not to mention the voice that had murmured the way to the dead end in the back of her mind was just like blue-haired woman's. Her tormenter pretended she hadn't noticed how confuse Kagome was and continued talking. “I am Toran, and this is my sister Shunran. We are panthers my lady and we are ever so pleased to make your acquaintance.”

The voice was smooth and soft, very determined though. This Toran person seemed very aware of what she was doing, and the fact the she was playing with it, and with her emotions, was pissing her off.

“A pleasure O-hime-sama.” The other greeted from behind, making her twirl without thinking to face her. She had brown coppery long hair, a white daisy behind her ear, and a dull green sweatshirt and shorts. She was smaller and less powerful than Toran.

“We would like to ask you to accompany us…”

“Whe-where?” she stuttered, with another wave of power trying to invade hers. This time it was Shunran's power forcing her window.

An easy smile crept up the daisy adorned panther, and she walked slower.

“Why do you ask O-hime-sama? Are you afraid?” her voice seemed to sound hazier… that didn't make sense but it was as if it was splitting in two and she could hear both her voices but not what she was saying, although she did understand it. How confuse was that?

“Why do you keep calling me that?” she forced through her aching lungs, head, body, her strength was weakening, and her knees gave way... Strong clawed hands hauled her up, burying cold like ice talons in her sides, as the cold tricked down her sides, the color seemed eerily duller, and the voices, as if she could see them, in a crazy sfumato effect. Indeed surreal she tried however to focus on what was happening around her.

Toran's amused sarcastic voice interrupted her haze, also split in two and confusing her even more.

“Why but Kagome-sama, you and Inuyasha-sama are mates, aren't you?” She could feel the coldness seep into her body through her gashes in the sides, where her talons were still hurting.

But nothing hurt as much as her voice saying those words. What would she answer to that?

No? That they're lovers? They weren't anymore…

No? That he loved another? He'd always love her. How humiliating, to admit it…

No? That she'd run away? She was a weak coward, unable to move forward or backwards…

No? Because she'd given up on him, tired of being used in the place of the woman he really loved?

Simply no because there was nothing else to say, because not even she comprehended anything beyond that no

Therefore she kept quiet, until Shunran again touched her shoulder.

She snapped immediately

“What do you want? What could you possible want?”

“O-hime-sama, for too long we've been ruled by those dogs”

Toran's initial tone faking exhaustion, at the word “dog” it intensified, rasped angrily. Shunran nodded and plucked the daisy out of her hair, crushing it in her hand to dust. When she opened her clawed hand again, she smiled at Kagome and blew the white glittery dust in her hand.

“The age of panthers has come. You're but a mere pawn”

The world turned even foggier. Everything changed color and was upside down, and then there was nothing but darkness. A darkness so cold she felt she could never find her way back. It seemed to her that a dear voice achingly called her name, but she laughed inwardly, knowing it was certainly a taunting illusion. Or was it her, calling for his help?

Silly girl, you should've known.

 

 

He should've known it would never be that easy. But he was too absorbed and anxious to find her. He was too fearful.

His first opponent surged when he was immediately out of the protection crimson sphere.

With a cruel laugh and a vengeful eye to him, Karan jumped from the skies. He was sure; she'd been expecting him… What made things worse.

She rather enjoyed his panicked look. She knew he was looking for the ningen that Shunran and Toran had gone to find. Through the entire city there were hidden rebels ready to attack, waiting for the sign that would be given by one of the Panther devas.

He tried to pass through her, around her, but she was decided not to let him and lit up a barrier of high orange hungry flames behind her, blowing on her hand afterwards, with a pleased smile as the remnant smoke ebbed away.

Then with her hand still so hot that it burned some hairs of her short spiky red hair, she finally greeted him, with a mocking western bow. From beyond the barrier he heard the crashing of cars as they stopped in mid road, to avoid going through thirsty hell flames. Her rich voice was snide.

“Finally we meet my lord, I am…”

“I know who the hell you are” Without even noticing it, his claws were already longer, deadlier and he crackled his knuckles in a violent warning, growling with his fangs bared and all. “Now get the fuck out of my way or I'll break every bone in your body”

She laughed impishly and purred, a tail sticking out of her shorts noticeably when she bended at the waist, hands in her knees, and long and curvy claws also ready to attack.

The swirly motions of her tail distracted him a little at first but then he was at her again. His vision meeting wisps of angry red, and he grabbed Tetsusaiga harder, brandishing it directly in her direction.

“Take out that fire, konoama, and get the fuck out of my way…”

“What are you going to do my lord? Kaze no kizu me and you'll blow out all the cars that are behind me…You wouldn't do that would you? After all, you, your disgusting family always loved ningen so much.”

“Get the hell away from me!” The pressure behind the cry was so loud it brought tears to his eyes…Kagome was just inside his reach, and he was being held back.

No! Too much aching he'd gone through! Too much regrets… Too much pain. He'd too at least make sure she was ok. Absolution was at stake.

Kaze no kizu wasn't the only attack his ancient katana possessed however. Hadn't the cat done her homework?

“Stupid cat…If you don't get the fuck out of my sight I'll show you how much more I can do with Tetsusaiga”

He panted, warmth crept up his cheeks, heat meaning that his youkai royal marking were tinting his unblemished skin, his eyes had red pressure behind them and his head hurt, his mouth hurt, his fingers hurt. A good hurting. The kind of hurting that urged him to scratch his itches and get rid of this cat-smelling nuisance.

The red pressure ebbed away slightly leaving him only half-transformed when a fireball made him side step and burned some wisps of hair that immediately grew back.

Finally came the animalistic will to cut that bitch in half, bury his talons and digits in her stomach and tear apart her uterus, stomach, bladder. To kill her... slowly…painfully…

The roar that left his throat made the demoness think he really was going to use his heirloom and blow the entire road away. No.

He was already clawing at her neck.

Feet above the ground in the sky. Diving to the ground. Slamming in the ground. Her skull cracked open, and when her red unfocused eyes looked up and found the youkai prince straddling her midsection with a cruel smirk, she had the urge to jump to her feet and knock him over, fight for her life- although she'd sworn to be faithful to the cause, and die for it if needed. She'd fight yes, but she'd do it psychologically, the way it hurt the most. Not by struggling, she couldn't win him in strength- Therefore she had to distract him, to then make her escape. He was way too heavy and powerful… Where the hell was Shuran when she needed him?

“Did you touch her?” he snarled near her ear, a sadistic grip in her neck, talons poised over her stomach, ready to plunge.

Laughing, she gurgled blood.

“Who my lord, your dearest ningen?”

Slamming her head against the ground again, tainting her red hair with more crimson panther blood, Inuyasha repeated himself, his frustration and anger escalating, engorging in his chest along with desperation.

“Did you touch her?”

“Is she that precious my lord? A mere ningen?”

“She is mine! I decide if she is important, and if she is the woman I want, she is a princess… If you touched her…”

“Oh rest assure, my lord…” she gurgled again. Inuyasha could see in her eyes. She didn't care about dying. She was enjoying twisting him, furthermore: she was enjoying the weight of the panther vengeance that would fall upon him. When she added in an all too excited voice the next sentence, his mind went in frenzy. “Kikyo-san is perfectly safe.”

His breath hitched. Kikyo? Kikyo? What did she mean by Kikyo? Did she thought that was the one he was referring too? That was strange. No. Karan's voice was firm and determined. She knew what she was saying and doing. Why the mention of Kikyo… Even the panther thought he wanted to make her his princess? When in fact it was not her who she wanted. It was…

“Kagome however is dozing. Who knows when she'll wake up? Shunran powders are really powerful.”

No, no, no! She was manipulating him, he was sure. No! He'd get to Kagome in time! Nothing had happened to her! He was still alive! But if she was indeed dozing as they liked to call it, under Shunran's powders… They're illusory and trapping. What if never came back?

Please mother…Please. I have to make amends with her. Please, you can't let her leave.

Amber eyes closed for a single second in prayer, he didn't see, smell or sensed the only male of the panther devas descending from behind his straddling body.

Not until lightning struck him.

Sweat trickling down his shirt clad body, drenching his hair. Smoke rising from charred parts of his body where his clothes had burnt as well. Under his claws dirt mingled with blood, but he got back on his feet. Shuran was hovering over his younger sister.

He should run away, but he was so thirsty, their blood, he wanted their blood! He wanted to eviscerate them!

An ironic buzz woke him from a frantic shake of hands and head as he continued looking at the two siblings. His cell phone. He didn't felt like answering it. He was sure it was either his brother or Miroku. And he wasn't going to accept it… They're going to tell him to calm down…

Enough of that he'd been calm for too long. If he now had the need to kill and maim it was because he'd been tamed for too long.

One freaking month without feeling her. Now he could get her back and he was under the risk of her being kidnapped, taken away from him forever. They're going to make her hate him…It was enough.

Disgusted he watched as Shuran, fruitlessly tried to wake Karan, and then held her dead body - which had ultimately been killed by his powerful spontaneous and non rational attack with the lightning - and kiss her in the lips harshly,

Turning blazing turquoise eyes to him, Shunran was a support of pain and loathe.

In a certain level he could identify with him- he too had lost the person he loved - although it was in fact an immoral and sick kind of love- he could understand it.

They're mates. And in the panther's eyes he was the only one to blame for her death- maybe in a futile attempt to hide the guilt, behind the need of vengeance.

He was going to strike, rising his crackling hand above his head, for a moment the hanyou stood impassible, with morbid fascination… He was sure he'd be worse if he ever lost Kagome.

“How dare you?” he rasped in a deep voice, heavy with hurt “How dare you to subjugate us, steal us from our self-determination and then kill her? She only wanted freedom.”

But in the snowy afternoon, as the cold flakes fell around them, Inuyasha didn't want to, couldn't think of politics. Karan's blood tinted the ground in an obnoxious spot of crimson.

He was sure that if he found Kagome's blood as Shuran now observed his sister's and lover's, he'd either doze-off to forever become an animal in a killing rampage, that Sesshomaru would be bound to kill or lock away forever, condemning him to a life in isolation, or he'd die. Die.

To this day the question remained pounding in his head: why hadn't he known sooner? Why was it necessary for all this drama to happen for him to understand that who he'd always had, was the only one he needed? He, truly, truly wanted.

For some extent he felt guilty. Yet another man was tore from the existence of his mate. However, he , himself, had to get to his own mate on time- and for that there were sacrifices to be made. Even if he had subjected another to the same pain- or worse- that he had gone through… that he was going through.

Shuran's hand descended in an irate gesture, eyes burning the edges of his turquoise eyes, his youki like flames arousing in the air, burning the molecules, the reality around him waving like the heat above a bonfire.

Inuyasha focused and again brandished his long fang, his precious heirloom. He still remembered chichi-ue's words

“Inuyasha, when you grow up Tetsusaiga will be yours.”

“The Sword of destruction?”

“No. no my son… The sword of protection”

This was for Kagome, for her protection. Who was he kidding? It was as much for her as it was for him. Selfishly he needed to see her again, alive, breathing, warm, rosy to make sure he was still alive too. He hadn't felt anything but numbness or extreme pain in the past month. He ached to again feel his loins coiling inside his flesh at hearing her endearment words.

Focusing on the power of dragon-scaled Tetsusaiga, the blade transformed morphing metal into scales and he directed his youki to Shuran. Thunder fell from the sky that had become dark. The snow no longer fell. The lightning bolts were an angry shade of orange, almost red, and crackled over his head, thundered, echoed in his min in a lone cry of help, of misery.

But this was his fate: To destroy the cursed Panther youkai in front of him, and rescue his preciosity, his treasure.

In the suddenly dark atmosphere, the lugubrious sky threatening to fell over them both to atone them of their crimes, two men fought for absolution. But only one would get it.

Expanding his red youki to his maximum, the shade of an angry dog appeared behind him, so much bigger than his own panther shadow in vengeful dark blue, in a promise of unhappiness.

Inuyasha roared and his red aura enveloped him in a red hurricane, his yoketsu swirling. Finally, after focusing immensely, the prince found Shuran's and prepared to attack. But before that, a violent junction of four lightning struck him, his youki coiling his body connecting with the ever cold ground, here the snow now melt to give way to the ugly wet tar. He felt his skin break under the shear violence of the blow. The shirt that was now ruined and shredded, leaving him bare chested. His hands were blistered for holding Tetsusaiga no saya with such strength against such a powerful attack, which hadn't failed to still catapult him at least eight feet away from where he fist had stand.

Fortunately, not only Tetsusaiga was the katana of protection, as its sheath was the provider of safety and protection for him.

But unfortunately for Shuran, he was now more pissed than ever and fixing his golden eyes rimmed with youkai red, in his yoketsu blue whirlwind, he wielded the Dragon-scaled Tetsusaiga and waited for the right opportunity.

For a while they stood, in a circle that had been made by the fire Karan had going so fiercely- that was now extinguished - and then from nowhere the opportunity flaunted itself.

Lost between anger and pain, for some seconds, the kurohyou youkai seemed to let the anger ebb away to drag regretful, guilty pained eyes to the broken body of his mate in the ground.

His Yoketsu coiled, but Inuyasha could still feel it very tangibly, above his figure who lingered over his own sister and lover.

Moving faster than he'd ever had, faster than both the human and youkai eye could see, knowing it was the only open opportunity he'd get, Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga rose above his own self and came down on the melancholic swirl known as yoketsu that dangled above Shuran's figure like a poisoned halo, cutting the whirlwind of life, like through soft buttery flesh.

Immediately the panther prostrated and fell. His skull hit the curious lingering spot of soft, pillowing, white snow where his sister's blood remained. Now the lovers laid together in dead.

Inuyasha wondered for a second why was it so calm, why were the streets empty? Was it Kigatsuku's work?

His reflection took half-second before he darted through the road following Kagome's mellowed smell by the dissimulating snow.

There was thread that pulled them together and that made him happy. Closing his eyes he tried to focus on her, on the feeling of that line that bonded them, that was so quickly warming his heart with hope.

And he was assaulted by terror.

In that strange connection he saw himself through her eyes. He was sure they're her eyes, it felt like being her. His claws buried in her face then in her body taking out her heart, ripping it in two and eating it. Red eyes glowed in pleasure from the maiming.

The awaking ripped a harsh grunt from him, his chest aching ever so much. This pain however didn't felt like his...

What the fuck was happening? Why was he feeling this? Not only the feeling was not his, but although he could feel the pain, he knew that the cause of it was not real.

Still, was that what she was seeing? Then they're manipulating her!

He ran harder, pushed himself to the limit, following every ounce, every little trace of her scent, like a frenzied frantic dog, in search of his mistress.

It had been miles since he'd left the Houkenikken. Had she run this much? Had he been fast enough?

Immediately two antagonizing auras surged and clashed with his. And another, one that reach for his desperately trying to mingle and thread with his, much weaker one, laid under one of those darker tinged youki power.

Kagome's powerful reiki, diminished to a quality that could only be described as hibernation, fear and shame and hurt and anger swiveling in her soul's pure white-blue shadow.

Before he could step in the dead ended. All its occupants came out.

He had no eyes for the panthers. His amber desperate orbs fell right on her. He could feel the coldness of her body from where he was ten feet from them. Her eyes were empty directed to the sky but unseeing. Her arms reached for the cursed wet ground in acceptance and embracing. Kagome was dozing, in the copperhead woman - who he knew to be Shunran, the illusory bitch, from the files- who smile leisurely, satisfies.

In front of her, Toran also with a satisfied look on her face.

“Why good afternoon wagakimi…! I hope you don't mind if we take sweet Kagome with u…”

“Give her to me” his voice wasn't even controlled by him anymore. He was directed by the constant pull of their bond. Her soul was begging for help unconsciously. And he was her protector… how many times had he disappointed her? Now wasn't the time to fail- no!

The aching bond between them urged his foots forward, pulled him to them. Shunran appeared surprised with his apparent rapt demeanor. He couldn't look at them however. His feet were leading to Kagome. His eyes rested on Kagome, his hands ached for Kagome. All of him wanted her. She was all he needed… right now the stupid kurohyou just had to let go of her.

“I said…Let her go. Give her to me.”

“You see Inuyasha-sama…Kagome is resting at the time. She's having wonderful dreams…”

Remembering the loaned pain he'd felt moments earlier, and now seeing a grimace on her face, Inuyasha was fast to react. Plunging the leader- Toran, in the wall, her head lolling forward and in an eerie similarity to what happened to Karan, her skull also cracked against the wall. However she didn't bled and he knew from there on, that she was much more powerful than any other kurohyou that'd yet to get in his path. Even the other bitch, which was very powerful, didn't have a youki as strong as hers.

However none of that was match for his own youki, and his rage. The enduring warmth in his cheeks, made him aware of his semi-transformation, as its fangs shredding his gums, and his claws piercing his hands.

Nothing could stop him now, not now that her familiar presence was again inside his bubble. Nothing but…the obvious threat they'd do to Kagome's numb body in spite of his superiority in power would have to make him stop.

She had been hurt too much times because of him. And he had promised Sango he'd take her back, and love her as she deserved to be loved.

“Now now O-ouji-sama… this is no way to treat me. I'm merely giving Kagome the opportunity of envisioning a life with you… a vile hanyou- who'd end up forcing her, hurting her… hurting her…”

He reacted immediately, his clawed hand on the other's neck tightened, but so did the choke on his lover…

“Oh… but you've already done that all those things. That wouldn't be much of a surprise…” Shunran's dull voice pierced into his mind, and he felt more and more like a trapped animal, between Shunran's threats to cause Kagome even more pain, and Toran's venomous words.

Darting angry eyes, with an engorged red rim around his irises to the woman he held by the neck, as sweaty blue hair clung to his hands, and to the other woman, who held the woman he loved, the woman he'd disappointed- so, so many times.

If he got rid of Toran, the panther movement would eventually disappear. But he couldn't place Kagome at stake. It was too risky… he couldn't lose her… what was a world without Kagome?

Focusing again in Shunran who'd a short smile on her thin lips and half-hooded eyes as if she was at the end of the great pleasure, savoring it like she would savor a sip of dark crimson wine.

As he'd done with their brother- Shuran- he could use the Dragon-scaled Tetsusaiga's technique of yoketsu cutting.

But could he cut them both on time, at the same time, to be able to get to kagome? Maybe he should use BakuryÅ«ha … But how would he know that it wouldn't hurt his beloved? Besides in order to use it, one of them had to attack him first… Kaze no Kizu was out of question, and right now, the Yoketsu cutting was the only attack he could muster to defeat them and finally have Kagome returned to him- but he'd to do it quickly almost inconspicuously.

“You bitches. You'll regret this in hell.”

“Disgusting dog, let see who goes to hell first…!”

He hadn't noticed his claws had find a way to bury in Toran's soft and cold neck, wisps of blood coloring her pale skin and his dirtied claws.

She let out an outraged cry, much like an angry mewl and tried to run from his hold. However she had the notion that if she did that, his claws in the velocity of the rush would rip her throat open.

Again if felt like being her

It was worse, that this time… it wasn't an illusion…It was a dark memory, which he hated and had tried to smother in dark recesses of his tainted mind: His room, so late at night that in a few hours, darkness would give way to light and shame. Kagome was debating his touch. She was hurt and had reasons to be. But he needed her, and he wanted her.
He felt her nimble hands slapped against his shoulder, as he trapped her between the bed and his body. And his mouth assaulted hers, as his hands assaulted her body, and his control over her solidified since that faithful night, so many years as it seemed, only two years ago. Kagome had woken dead that morning, and never had she again refused his touch.

She was in love with him and nothing that he could have done had killed that feeling. It had twisted it, and tainted it. But she'd lost a part of herself, and he now knew how it felt to also loose that part - Dignity.

Seeing him distracted as it had been her sisters intentions by sending the young prince in a painful memory trip, Toran was able to escape from his vicious hold and run to Shunran's and Kagome's side.

When the hanyou woke from his trance, the panther leader was already at her sister side, mumbling for her to call both Karan and Shuran, to flee. He heard her clearer. She thought this would be dangerous, that he was in an anger haze, but they'd take Kagome and negotiate her. But that they had to go! And now, before it was too late! For Shunran to call their siblings fast!

And a dark hollow laugh interrupted their murmurs, when the hanyou shook himself out of the daze, sooner than they had predicted.

Toran assumed a protective position, summoning in her hand an ice spear. The long handle formed first, entangling two thick strands of ice, in a strange eerie braid, then the deadly blade pointy and long it faced Inuyasha, thirsty. But Toran's voice was concerned and hurried, fraught.

“Go now Shunran! Find Karan and Shuran and flee!”

Another laugh, from the still hanyou who felt the rims around his irises enlarge, he knew his youkai was pushing out, and even now with a transformed Tetsusaiga in hand, there was no way to stop it. His cheeks now weren't warm; they scalded, burned as if flaming irons were destroying them

His visage turned turquoise and red, a strange purple, as his all mind. His voice scratched his own throat. It was deep and took a sense of bloodlust.

“Those disgusting incestuous cats are dead… You are next!”

Shunran stopped in her tracks, eyes wide and lips trembling, she had already turned her back to them. Kagome came into his visage again and he roared.

“Give me my mate now; your fate is already sealed.”

Toran's head, who'd been down since the terrifying statement the prince hanyou had made, rose and blue deadly eyes faced him, then the point of her spear.

“I'm sure he's lying Shunran” she herself lied. The knowing that it was truth stamped on her face, suddenly Shunran's face held the fright of an innocent child, and it crossed his mind, that their tribe must suffer a lot, with these devas on charge.

“Why don't you look near the Tamagawa sta.?I'm sure you'll find them there.” A cruel smirk stretched his lips as he advanced on their position, already focusing on their yoketsu's whirlwinds, they started to appear. Toran's ice blue, Shunran's an earthy yellow.

“But before going, you're holding something that is mine. Give her to me!”

At the same time that is voice escalated to new highs, so did Toran's even more frantic, turning quickly to her confused sister and confronting her with her leader status, fangs bared and all, her spear still pointed firmly at the hanyou that approached even more.

“Go now, stupid! Run!”

Was she begging for her sister's safety or for the successful capture of the princess of the western lands?

It was all a flash.

Shunran's feet gave the balance to take off.

Inuyasha ran her yoketsu in sight, Tetsusaiga draw to cut it.

Wisps of a dark yellow flew above the copperhead demoness, as the whirlwind of live was cut.

Her green eyes widened, as she felt life ebbing away.

Kagome fell to the floor.

He ran protectively to her, tears shining in his eyes.

Finally he'd gotten to her. He'd saved her from death.

Thank you mother…

Hunched above her, he saw her grey eyes wearily open and face him. Her eyes shone in confusion and fear.

He recoiled a little but then advanced to her again, falling to his knees.

He'd forgotten about Toran.

Until her ice spear perforated his chest cavity with a pained cry leaving the last panther mouth.

Kagome's eyes widened in unbearable shock, as his blood covered her face, and he smiled to her.

A kind loving smile- the first and last, adorned with a blood line in the corner of his fanged mouth.

The extremity of the ice spear spurted from his chest to show her the remnant blood there, and his destroyed flesh, and then twisted.

Inuyasha's hand came up, cradled her cheek. More of his blood was shed over her aggrieved and perplexed being.

“Kagome…”

She threw her hands on the annihilating cold blade and a surge of power cruised her.

In a fantastical spectacle of white pink light, the blade was destroyed and Toran roared.

Her body fell, skin turned to dark charred flesh. Eyes open and condemning, the panther movement had fell.

But so did Inuyasha.

Her spirit pulled him to her, in a catastrophe of crimson tainted tears.

“Oh Inuyasha…”

 

 

 

You will be the death of me;
you will be the death of me.

Bury it,
I won't let you bury it,
I won't let you smother it,
I won't let you murder it.

Our time is running out,
our time is running out,
you can't push it underground,
you can't stop it screaming out.

Muse- Our time is running out.