InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cerulean Skies ❯ Demon Transformations ( Chapter 8 )

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Chapter Eight

 

Demon Transformations

 

 

(Give a round of applause to my wonderful beta, Koga's Hentai Luver. I apologize for taking so long in getting this story back up. I'm finally settled into my new job and the reduction in seizure meds has done a lot to clear up my head, so things should go faster from now on. ^_^)

 

 

 

 

“Stay away from Kagome, you bastard!” yelled Inuyasha as the flames of his sword thundered toward Sesshoumaru.

 

`I just knew it! As soon as I leave, Kagome is in trouble. What is it with her?' thought Inuyasha, angry with himself for leaving her alone, angry with her for forcing him into it, angry with Sesshoumaru who had no reason to be near her.

 

As the flames receded and the blinding light faded, he could see no sign of Sesshoumaru, but that wasn't enough. His eyes scanned the area.

 

“Looking for me, little brother?”

 

`Damn it.' Inuyasha looked up to see his brother floating well above the scorched earth.

 

“You stay away from Kagome…and Kouga too,” he had to add as he glanced at them.

 

“I am not here for your miko, nor for Tetsusaiga. This is between me and Kouga.”

 

Sudden memories of the scent permeating the clearing where he and Kagome had found Kouga made him wince. More than anything else, scent can trigger memories, and especially so for the sensitive noses of dog demons.

 

“You stay away from Kouga. I know what you did.”

 

Sesshoumaru arched an eyebrow at him. `Just what does he think I did and why should he care?'

 

“For the sake of the wolf, you would endanger your miko?” asked the amused lord.

 

“He's her friend. She would want it.” He didn't bother to add that he believed that Sesshoumaru had forced himself on an unwilling victim and that it was a vile and despicable thing to do, even for Sesshoumaru.

 

That last bit `she would want it' helped Kagome past the earlier hurt of the `jewel detector' comment. At least he cared enough about her to be willing to do most of what she wanted without being sat. Though his words were sometimes harsh and hurtful, his actions always reminded her that, in some way, he cared for her. It was enough. That small piece of him that accepted her was enough.

 

Sesshoumaru regarded Inuyasha with a hint of curiosity. Even Kouga was somewhat surprised. He had never seen Inuyasha willingly desire or seek to please someone else. Little did he know. How could he? It was not as though Kouga had been their traveling companion. He never stuck around for more than a few minutes.

 

“Then save your miko, Inuyasha,” said Sesshoumaru with a glint in his eye as he sped toward Kagome and drew Tokijin.

 

Inuyasha reached them first planting his feet firmly on the ground with Tetsusaiga's hilt gripped in both hands.

 

“Get back!” yelled Inuyasha as their swords clashed.

 

Kagome grabbed Kouga around the waist and drug him out of harms way. He was in no condition to fight Sesshoumaru and he knew it. He had wanted Inuyasha dead and knew Sesshoumaru could do it. But now…now, something was different. If Kagome really did love Inuyasha, he shouldn't be killed right before her very eyes. He gazed down at her and saw nothing but faith in her expression while she watched the object of her affection fight for their safety.

 

`She really does love him,' Kouga thought, giving a heavy sigh before turning his eyes back to the battle.

 

Inuyasha made a wide swing with Tetsusaiga as Sesshoumaru's white pelt reached for him. He was learning. Sesshoumaru jerked it away before rushing Inuyasha again.

 

Their swords scraped and the sound wailed like that of an injured animal. Every move, every parry by Sesshoumaru was made with such graceful ease that it seemed effortless. His silver curtain of hair swirled around him like that of some great god come to earth. No being could look so beautiful in battle. Only Sesshoumaru. He didn't seem to tire, sweat, or even breathe heavy. Of course, there had never been a time when Sesshoumaru hadn't been magnificent to gaze upon.

 

Tetsusaiga, now transformed to its full size and strength, seemed overly large for the hanyou. A normal human didn't have the strength to lift it, much less wield it in its current form. Inuyasha could, but even for him, there was some difficulty. Perhaps it was one of the reasons his moves were more like a bear and less like a panther. Nevertheless, his power compensated.

 

Kagome watched in horror as Sesshoumaru flung Inuyasha several yards to land in a trail of dust and dirt. It would not have been anything to be concerned about, except that Tetsusaiga had fallen from his hand along the way. The chances of him transforming in the midst of a battle with Sesshoumaru were too great. She darted forward just out of Kouga's grasp.

 

“Kagome, come back!” called Kouga as he dragged himself forward.

 

It was too late. Sesshoumaru intercepted her before she could reach Inuyasha. She hadn't even seen him coming, hadn't even felt her body moving. She simply had to get to Inuyasha. His still form, lying in a crumpled heap on the ground, blinded her to everything around her. However, reality knocked the breath out of her when she was lifted from the ground and carried back toward Kouga.

 

“A choice, Kouga,” stated Sesshoumaru while his claws found the pouch tied at his waist. With Kagome held by his pelt, he severed the strings of the pouch and flung it to the ground in front of Kouga. “Take the healing poultice and delay the inevitable, or heal yourself now. Change and show her what you truly are.”

 

Sesshoumaru's eyes were neither cold nor hot. He simply watched and waited for Kouga's response. `He knows she will reject his beast. Why does he delay the inevitable?' thought Sesshoumaru as he and Kagome drifted to the ground. He was careful to land at a distance that allowed him to watch both Inuyasha and Kouga.

 

“Why now, Sesshoumaru? Leave it alone,” muttered Kouga. He knew that he wouldn't win this one.

 

“Who accepts you as you are, Kouga? Ask yourself, or are you too afraid?”

 

“What are you two talking about,” grunted Kagome as she struggled to get free.

 

“Silence!” commanded Sesshoumaru and his grip tightened around her writhing body.

 

Kagome gasped and turned her eyes toward Inuyasha. He was her main concern. She knew he couldn't be dead. She would feel it. Her heart never lied and she knew he would save her. What she didn't expect was to see him already coming toward them, eyes glowing red.

 

“Inuyasha,” she groaned in sympathy.

 

“You must choose quickly, my wolf. The hanyou's beast will soon cry out for the miko's blood, as well as your own.”

 

The noose around Kagome's body only tightened. Nevertheless, she continued to struggle to free herself from Sesshoumaru.

 

“Let me get Tetsusaiga to him, please,” she pleaded. “His youkai blood will recede, please.”

 

“Change and I will let her go,” Sesshoumaru demanded of Kouga. He wasn't going to let Kouga get out of this. It was for his own good. Though Kouga knew that as well as Sesshoumaru, he was so loath to do it that his hesitation could get them all killed. Inuyasha's youki could not distinguish friend from foe. Sesshoumaru gripped Kagome's face and turned her head away from Inuyasha.

 

“I will not hurt you, Kagome. Please believe me.” Kouga hung his head as baby-fine black hair sprouted from every inch of his skin. He lifted his face and stared at her.

 

Kagome's eyes widened as the bones under Kouga's skin seemed to change shape and grow larger. The hair grew longer, coarser, and his jaw and nose elongated into a snout. She didn't know the eyes that stared back at her. They were the color of an iceberg, white with only a mild hue of blue left in them, the color of a husky's eyes. He hunched over and fell to all fours when his spine stretched and his arms and legs grew longer, taller, the bones shifting into new positions. The most shocking of all was the one bit that a movie about shapeshifters would never have shown. Kouga was male. Very, very male.

 

With her mouth hung open and eyes wide, the only color left in Kagome's shocked face was the hint of a blush. Kouga looked away. She would never gaze at him like she gazed at Inuyasha. That unconditional love for a mate would never be there. He didn't have time to ponder anything else. Knuckles cracking let him know that Inuyasha was too close. Kouga growled at Sesshoumaru to save Kagome as he dodged the first swipe of Inuyasha's claws. Because he hadn't yet had time to completely heal, he was too slow, and Inuyasha clipped his right rear flank.

 

When Inuyasha attacked Kouga, Kagome heard a rumbling growl from low in Sesshoumaru's chest. She looked up to see the lavender color of his facial markings change to maroon and his eyes turn the color of red rubies, just like Inuyasha's. She could be grateful that Sesshoumaru still had his mind when he took on his demon form.

 

“Let me down. Let me get Tetsusaiga, please,” she begged.

 

Sesshoumaru didn't seem to hear her, but he did unceremoniously drop her to the ground as he raced to defend Kouga. She ran toward Tetsusaiga with all the speed she could muster.

 

`They will kill each other, all of them. I know it.' Her heart raced as she ran back toward them with Tetsusaiga clutched in both hands.

 

Isn't there some saying about not getting between two fighting dogs? Kagome had never heard it, didn't remember, or didn't care as she rushed right into the middle of two warring dogs and a wolf.

 

When Sesshoumaru knocked Inuyasha away and sent him flying into Kagome, Tetsusaiga spilled out of her hands. The weight and force of Inuyasha's momentum took her down. Inuyasha rolled off her and jumped to his feet. His unbelievably long claws were dripping blood. Fangs of enormous size protruded from his lips. And, there was no one home behind the solid, ruby eyes in his stark face that now sported their own jagged, lavender markings.

 

“Inuyasha,” Kagome softly murmured as she tried to sit up.

 

He whirled around with a growl, the weight of his menace stifling. Her throat tightened and that sinking feeling you have when you just know you are going to fail a test dropped to the pit of her stomach. With her big dark eyes filling with tears, she said his name again and rose from the ground. Inuyasha roared at her, flexed his fingers, and popped his knuckles. Despite the intended threat, he was still her Inuyasha. It wasn't his fault that the youki blood stole his mind. The human half of him was simply too weak to protect his mind from the demon blood raging through his veins. If she didn't do something soon, his soul could be lost forever. Getting Tetsusaiga to him was out of the question. He now stood between her and the sword. She had to save him, or at least die trying.

 

“Inuyasha,” she whispered, taking a step toward him.

 

He stepped back, still growling, but didn't attack. That was a good sign. She took another step and murmured his name like you would to a sleeping baby. This time he didn't retreat. He crouched as though he were about to attack her, but she didn't give him the chance. She jumped forward and wrapped her body around him, her legs gripping his waist and arms squeezing his neck. Even while his large clawed hands completely encircled her waist in a painful grip, she continued to murmur his name over and over. As his grip pushed the air from her lungs and a muffled scream from her throat, his claws began to slide beneath her skin. She reached up, grabbed his ears, and stroked them as she buried her face into his hair. If she was going to die, she would die doing something she hadn't been given the chance to do since she had first found him pinned to the Goshinboku.

 

Kouga lay on the ground, coddled in the white fluffy pelt that now dripped with his blood. He whined and struggled to free himself as Kagome signed her own death warrant.

 

“He'll kill her,” he growled out to no one in particular.

 

“You cannot stop her, my wolf. Do you not see how she loves him? She would die for him. You could never win her heart.” Sesshoumaru's voice was uncharacteristically soft as he knelt beside Kouga, ran his hands through Kouga's scruff, and tried to comfort him.

 

“But you have captured mine without even trying, my wolf,” sighed Sesshoumaru.

 

Kouga shifted his gaze back to Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru's eyes were following the trail of his own hand through Kouga's fur. He did not see the wolf watching him. What Kouga saw was unexpected. Sesshoumaru was not aware that he was being watched, nor did care. Raw emotions played across his expression; regret, concern, pain, love…maybe? Whatever he was feeling, it was not animosity of any sort. And, it made Kouga's heart ache. Whatever Sesshoumaru was feeling, it was too deep for him to fathom ever coming from the Lord of the Western Lands.

 

Kouga's attention snapped back to Kagome when the sound of her muffled cry reached his ears.

 

“I have to help her!”

 

“I am sorry, my wolf, but it is too late.”

 

 

 

 

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Reviewer Recognition

I Lurv You Al

Thanks for the reviews!

 

 

MM.ORG

 

HeartStar

Yeah, Sess can be an ass. LOL Don't worry. He'll make up for it…eventually. Thanks for reviewing so regularly.

 

Sesshys numbal gurl

When it comes to Inuyasha, Sess really has not shown a lot of temper control in the series. At least, not until recently. So, I figure with something this large, he's going to have a problem.

 

Life's untold stories

^_^ Thanks for being so patient. The next one should be up fairly quickly.

 

Gen50

I had written this before I had seen the episode where Kouga saves Rin. Pretty cool, ne? That happened a lot with Kagome's Blood and after I got to see the eppies, I was horrified that people might think that I had stolen it. Explains the complaints though. Sometimes that poetic stuff just possesses me and I can't help it. That's what happened with Whispers. I had to write it before the zone was gone. We'll see who dominates in this fic, Heheh.

 

MetsukiKaraTen

Yeah. When Sess decides something he gets a bit OCD. LOL Thanks for the concern. ^_^

 

 

 

AFF

 

XZanayu

Nanaka

Nanami-chan

Kogas Hentai Luver

Eye of Ra

Rawben

Lisn

ahanchan

Onyxlight

 

 

 

*Disclaimer*

 

Inuyasha and all associated characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. I make no profit from this story, nor do I intend to. My only goal is to occupy my demented mind with delusions of actually owning a life-sized, anatomically correct Sesshoumaru.