InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Sense ❯ The Demon Within ( Chapter 12 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters in this story. These characters and all aspects of them are from InuYasha, created and owned by Rumiko Takahashi. The story itself is my own.

 

 

 

Demon Sense

By Ender_kb

 

Chapter 12: The Demon Within

 

 

“InuYasha!” Kagome screamed in terror. InuYasha was hanging in the air by his neck, a tentacle wrapped tightly around it. The tentacle was attached to a large hideous beast. The beast had many tentacles and they were swirling about wildly. It's head was…that of a human's.

 

InuYasha struggled against the tentacle, trying to free himself. Kagome readied an arrow and released it at the limb restricting him. It struck true and InuYasha collapsed to the floor. She started to run towards him, but Miroku stopped her. Kagura was in their way.

 

“Sorry, but you can't help him now.” Kagura said. Her fan thrust forward as swirls of untamed wind ripped through the air towards them. Kagome dived to the side as Miroku raised a barrier around himself. Once the winds had passed Miroku sent sutras speeding at the wind demon. She stopped one with a gust of wind a dodged the other one.

 

“So, it is you who wishes to fight me? So be it.” Kagura chuckled. Kagome drew her attention to the beast that held InuYasha. Miroku could take care of himself. Kagome's eyes widened as she saw a tentacle flying towards her. She dove to the floor. As she looked up, she saw the tentacle had plunged itself into the wall behind her. Kagome rolled out from underneath it and stood up.

 

InuYasha was finally on his feet. He unsheathed Tetsusaiga and jumped to Kagome's side.

 

“Are you okay?” They both asked in unison. Their attempt to converse was shattered by another tentacle forcing its way in between them. InuYasha jumped back, but Kagome didn't have as much grace. She fell back hard. InuYasha jumped towards the monster raising his sword high, then struck down in full force.

 

The sword tore through the beast's skin easily, but it didn't seem to hurt it at all. The human head just chuckled.

 

“Do you think something as plain as a sword can harm me? I've been alive much longer than anything else in this pitiful world. You'll have to do better than that.” It hissed.

 

The head then yelled in agony as an arrow struck the side of its body.

 

“How about that, huh?!” Kagome yelled. The beast's gaze turned to the young priestess and narrowed its cold eyes. Tentacles went flying towards her once again, but this time they succeeded in grabbing her. Her arms were pressed firmly to her sides as she struggled to get free.

 

“You bastard!” InuYasha yelled. He swung Tetsusaiga at the offending tentacles and cut through them. The beast growled as Kagome fell to the floor.

 

“Kagura!” it yelled with ferocity. The wind user turned her head from her own battle and nodded her head.

 

“Sorry, monk, we'll have to continue this another time.” She said and traced a large circle with her fan. Winds ripped through the room and the beast, InuYasha, and Kagura disappeared.

 

“No! Not again!” Kagome yelled.

 

“Kagome, we must find them quickly before they harm InuYasha.” Miroku hollered to her. Kagome nodded quickly and ran to the nearest doorway. As soon as she was through it she entered a dark hall. She heard the sound of stone grinding together. `What the…?'

 

She looked back and the door that she had just come through was no longer there. She threw her hands up against it.

 

“Miroku!” she yelled. Nothing. Her heart started pounding when she placed her back against the wall looking from side to side only to see nothing but darkness. `Calm down, Kagome. You can do this.'

 

She steadied herself on her feet and, with a hand sliding along the hard cold stone, began walking down the hallway. She stretched her senses out to find the demons. Her stomach was constantly being pulled on by the demonic forces within the castle. She just needed to narrow down which direction they were coming from.

 

`Upstairs.' She thought. She went up three flights of stairs before she felt that this was the floor they were on. She didn't hear anything. She walked slowly, quietly and stopped before a doorway. They were on the other side. She knew that for sure, but what were they doing? She didn't hear anything and felt no surge of power, just that there was one.

 

“Hello.” Kagome jumped and turned her head to find Kagura standing in front of her. “It's time to join the party.” She said calmly. She grabbed Kagome's arm harshly and lead her into the room.

 

She looked around and saw InuYasha lying on the floor out cold. “InuYasha!” she screamed.

 

“Ah, ah, ah,” a deep voice sounded though the room. “I don't want him waking just yet.”

 

“Who are you?” Kagome demanded frantically.

 

“You know me as Lord Onigumo, but I prefer to be called Naraku.” He said smoothly. A man stepped from the darkness into the light of the torches that filled the room. He looked just as normal as any man, but he had a darkness in his eyes and his horrible smile. His head belonged to the beast they had fought before, but now he looked all human.

 

“Lord Onigumo.” Kagome whispered. Kagome winced as Kagura squeezed her arm tightly. Kagome glanced at InuYasha once more.

 

“I am truly sorry. It seems my miasma has overwhelmed InuYasha's senses.” Naraku's eyes looked over InuYasha's body, his voice thick with sarcasm and evil. “But I can't have him getting disobedient when he isn't the way I want him yet.”

 

“What are you talking about?” Kagome asked aloud. Her forehead wrinkled with confusion, her voice laced with fear and curiosity.

 

“His demon inside is what I wish for. You, my dear, are going to help me bring it out.” Naraku chuckled softly as he watched Kagome's eyes fill with fear. His body started to transform into the beast that she had previously seen. Before he was even finished morphing he sent tentacles at Kagome just after Kagura released her.

 

She dodged the first two, but it was useless. One attached to her ankle, one grabbed her upper arm, and the third wrapped tightly around her neck. Kagome tried calling upon her energy, but she couldn't concentrate enough to bring enough power out of her body. Naraku pulled Kagome through the air to rest close to his human head.

 

“Now,” he whispered roughly in her ear. “Scream for me.” Kagome closed her eyes tightly as his tentacle squeezed her more and more. She didn't want to give him the pleasure of hearing her scream, but she couldn't bear the pain any longer. Her scream filled the room.

 

InuYasha's eyes popped open at her scream and rose to his feet weakly. “Damn you! Let her go!” he yelled as he looked upon the scene before him.

 

“Not before you give me what I want.” Naraku formed a human arm out of his monstrous body and stroked the side of Kagome's face. “Wouldn't you do anything to have this lovely face back?” Kagome tried to turn her head away from this demon's touch, but to no avail. Her teeth were grinding together as she struggled to break free.

 

InuYasha growled loudly and went to unsheathe Tetsusaiga. His eyes were filled with shock when he realized that his sword was no longer strapped to his side.

 

“Sorry,” Kagura said from behind him. “That sword won't help you now.” The wind goddess motioned towards the sword that hung high in the air behind her, held up by her swirls of wind.

 

“Fine. I'll tear you apart with my claws.” He said and widened his stance.

 

“Why, InuYasha, you aren't nearly angry enough.” Naraku said. His index finger started to morph into a shiny dagger. He pointed it at Kagome's face. Kagome whimpered. “Do you feel it surging through you yet?”

 

“If you hurt her I'll rip you into pieces!” He inched forward with urgency, but did his best not to cause Naraku to thrust that dagger into Kagome. Naraku brought the finger-turned-dagger down to Kagome's arm and pressed it into the skin. Kagome moaned with pain, the tentacles squeezing her vocal chords shut.

 

Naraku dragged the dagger down Kagome's arm and watched as InuYasha's eyes started flashing red.

 

“I'm impressed InuYasha. You seem to be able to control your emotions with greater ease than I expected.” InuYasha's breath was heavy as he tried to filter out the anger within him. “We'll see how you fair against this.” Naraku drew the dagger back behind Kagome, then thrust it forward plunging it into Kagome's shoulder, the tip of it bursting through to the other side.

 

Kagome screamed with force as the pain shot through her entire body. Tears bathed her cheeks as she heard InuYasha's cry. She had never heard anything so animalistic before. She could tell he had gone over the edge. She dared opening her eyes, but white blocked her view. Something flew by behind her and then she hit the floor hard.

 

She raised her head and saw a figure standing near the entrance. Kagura turned around quickly to face this new intruder.

 

“S-Sango.” Kagome whispered. Miroku came into the room behind her as she caught Hiraikotsu in her hand. She ran quickly to Kagome's side and helped her get away from the tentacled beast that currently had its hands full with the demonic side of InuYasha. Kagome clutched her throbbing shoulder and felt the warm liquid that rushed from it.

 

Miroku continued his fight with Kagura as Sango aided InuYasha much to Kagome's surprise. Sango had laid her against the far wall near the entrance so she could rest.

 

`I have to help.' She thought. She stood slowly and raised her good arm towards Miroku's opponent. Her breathing was still heavy and uneven, but she would not stand by to watch her friends fight alone. Energy formed quickly at her hand and she released it. Kagura's eyes widened when she saw, too late, that something was headed her way.

 

The energy threw her back a few feet as she landed hard on her back. Kagura coughed and sat herself up. `I can't believe she was able to take that much and still be conscious.' Kagura came up wobbly on her feet, her eyes looked tired as she brought her fan up. Her other hand clutched her chest as she flicked her fan hard towards Miroku and Kagome.

 

Both brought up their barriers and braced themselves for impact. Kagome was injured, but she could feel the power well up inside of her. Watching her friends fight brought out something fierce within her. She would not die and neither would her friends.

 

Just then, InuYasha flew across the room and slammed into the wall next to Kagome. She gasped, but just watched as InuYasha stood up and shook it off. `Such power he has in this form.'

 

Kagome brought her attention back to the wind goddess just as Miroku was able to fix a sutra to her head. Electricity wrapped around her as she convulsed and collapsed to the ground. A clanging was heard as well as Tetsusaiga fell to the floor.

 

“Is she…?” Kagome asked with amazement.

 

“She'll be out for awhile. That wouldn't have happened if you didn't take half of her strength already with your power.” They both looked at each other and sighed with relief.

 

Sango's cry brought them both back to the battle that was still raging between Naraku, InuYasha, and Sango. Sango was about to fall hard to the ground as a tentacle released her. Miroku acted fast and broke her fall. She winced with pain, but stood nonetheless. Kagome watched in aw as InuYasha struck at Naraku with fangs and claws.

 

He was so fast that Naraku was becoming overwhelmed. He couldn't seem to get one tentacle to restrain the dog demon.

 

“What happened to him?” Sango asked Kagome.

 

“His anger enveloped him. This is what happens. Naraku wanted this to happen.” She replied.

 

“Why? Wouldn't it have been easier to defeat him in his normal state?”

 

“It seems,” Miroku tried to explain quickly. “that for Naraku to gain InuYasha's powers, he needs to be in his most powerful form before consuming him.” They all seemed to understand.

 

InuYasha then flew again at a wall and collapsed to the floor. Rubble piled on top of him. The three gasped when they didn't see him get back up again. Before Naraku was able to gather him up, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango halted his actions with energy, sutras, and Hiraikotsu, respectively.

 

Naraku growled with irritation and narrowed his eyes upon the three slayers. “You three are more bothersome than I had expected.” He hissed through clenched teeth.

 

“You bet we are!” Kagome yelled. The fighting commenced. Miroku used his staff to deflect most of the attempts to bind him. Kagome ran across the room jumping over and dipping under tentacles all the while throwing energy balls from her hand. Every movement sent pain from her shoulder, but she had to ignore it.

 

Sango threw Hiraikostu again, but before it returned a tentacle thrust her up against a wall. The action distracted the other two demon slayers causing them to get caught as well. Sango struggled against the offending limb, but nothing could be done.

 

“It is time to end this.” Naraku hissed. Miroku and Kagome watched the demon's face contort with confusion and shock as he turned his head towards Sango. They followed and saw a large white feline with rather familiar black markings on it. Fire surrounded it as it tore through the tentacles binding Sango to the wall.

 

“Kirara?” Kagome whispered forgetting about the limbs that restricted her from movement. The cat caught Sango before she hit the ground and took her to her weapon. Sango righted herself on the cat's back. Kagome saw Sango's face was full of confusion and a small bit of fear, but she seemed to go with it anyway.

 

Sango grabbed Hiraikotsu and freed her allies. The cat demon flew to catch Kagome as Miroku found his footing before even touching the ground. Kagome saw the mound of rubble moving that hid InuYasha.

 

“Take me to InuYasha, Sango.” She yelled. Sango didn't ask why, but did as she was told. Sango and Miroku continued the fight behind her as she cautiously approached the dog demon.

 

He stood hunched over, breathing heavily. His body was scratched and bloody, but he still held determination in his deep red filled eyes.

 

“InuYasha.” She said to him, reaching a hand out. He looked at her hand like it had offended him in some way. “Come back to me.”

 

InuYasha growled at the girl before him, but approached tentatively. They stood before each other and Kagome brought a hand up to his face. It startled him so he grabbed Kagome's injured shoulder roughly to push her away. Kagome yelled in pain and stepped back.

 

InuYasha pulled his hand away quickly and stared at the blood that came away with it. He looked at Kagome again and saw her eyes filled with worry. He shook his head after he smelled the blood on his hand. He growled continuously and squeezed his eyes tightly like he was fighting an inner battle. He fell to his knees and grabbed his head with his hands, smearing Kagome's blood through his silver hair.

 

Kagome joined him on the ground. “InuYasha?” as the words left her mouth, his hand grasped onto her forearm. Kagome looked at it with worry.

 

“InuYasha.”

 

“You afraid of me?” she heard him ask quietly. She was amazed that she could hear him over the noise of the battle behind her.

 

“No. I'm afraid for you.” He then looked up and she was relieved to see the gold eyes that she knew so well. Her heart leapt for joy. InuYasha helped Kagome to her feet as they turned their attention to the battle once more. They saw Sango on the cat demon fly to catch Miroku before he could hit the wall behind them.

 

Naraku yelled in fury as Sango brought them to the ground by Kagome and InuYasha.

 

“We have to attack him together. All at once.” Sango said. “That's the only way. All of our powers, full strength.” Kagome nodded with agreement as did the others.

 

They stood in a row facing the demon that was before them. This was it. No more playing around. Kagome built everything she had within her to make a killing blow. Inuyasha grabbed Tetsusagia nearby Kagura's unconscious body and concentrated to release the powerful energy that came from it. Miroku readied his most powerful sutras as Sango raised her Hiraikotsu.

 

“You will not defeat me!” Naraku bellowed.

 

“Oh, shut up!” InuYasha yelled. They released everything they had at the demon and watched as it consumed him. It enveloped him and overwhelmed him so much that when he opened his mouth to yell, nothing came out. Everything that was this demon melted and dissipated. Steam rose from the hard stone of the floor.

 

Everyone was about to smile and leap with joy until they saw Kagome collapsing to the floor. InuYasha caught her before she could meet the cold stone.

 

“Kagome? Kagome!” she heard him say over and over again.

 

“A killing blow,” Miroku said. “takes too much out of her. With her injury it will take long for her to recover.”

 

“But she'll be okay?” Sango asked, voice tight with worry.

 

“Yes. She just needs lots of rest.”

 

InuYasha just looked at Kagome's face. She was still awake, but she could barely move. Barely speak. Her eyelids were heavy as she blinked at InuYasha. He picked her up and headed towards the doorway.

 

The cat demon nudged Sango's hand and it startled her. She turned to face the cat. Her brow scrunched as she looked upon the beautiful beast. The cat started shrinking until it became apparent to Sango.

 

“It is you, Kirara!” she exclaimed. “This whole time?” The cat just mewed at her and jumped onto her shoulder. Sango smiled and followed InuYasha.

 

“Yo.” The three heard before they reached the exit. They turned and saw Kagura standing there, a bit disheveled. Sango and Miroku took battle stances as Kirara transformed again.

 

“There is no need for that.” The four looked upon her with surprise and confusion. “I have no quarrel with you. Not any longer, for that matter.”

 

“What are you talking about?” InuYasha snapped. He held Kagome tighter to him. His arms made her feel more relaxed and comfortable.

 

“Naraku created me,” she explained. “He held my heart, forcing me to stay in his good graces for he could kill me instantly. Since you have disposed of him, rather well I might add, I am now free of his tyranny. I thank you even though I know that this was not your objective.” Emotion was free from her face, but the four companions knew that she was telling the truth.

 

“I know that the trek up this mountain is not an easy one. Going down, and with an injured party, is not much easier and will take a lot of time. Is their someplace you wish to go? I can take you their quickly.” There was no ill intent in her voice or upon her face. They looked at each other wondering if it was a good idea.

 

“I assure you, if you four could defeat Naraku with such ease, I will be of no match. You have nothing to fear from me.”

 

“Fine.” Sango said. “But any suspicious acts on your part and I'll sick Kirara on your fan.” As if on cue, Kirara growled with a threatening tone. “Take us to the roof of the D.A.”

 

Kagura smirked with amusement and nodded. She flicked her fan and the party disappeared from the castle. Wind swirled all around them as the ground flew past them quickly. They landed gently on top of the roof.

 

Kagome leaned her head against InuYasha's chest as she listened to the continued conversation.

 

“I will depart from you now.” Kagura stated and turned to leave.

 

“Kagura,” Miroku said holding up a hand. “If you seek shelter, may I suggest going to the House of Inu? The keeper there houses demons.”

 

“I will consider this.” She said, finally flying off into her winds.

 

Sango gawked at Miroku, “You knew all this time?!”

 

“As did Kagome.” He replied. Kagome winced at this revealed truth. Sango just sighed in defeat. “What will you do?”

 

“Nothing. At least not yet. There is still much I have to learn, it seems.” Sango led the way to the medical ward, Kirara perched on her shoulder.

 

 

 

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Don't worry! I'm still writing another chapter. It's not the end, yet. That would be a pretty sorry ending. :P

 

I hope you liked the battle. I've never really written fight scenes before. If you have any suggestions, that would be great.

 

Next chapter coming soon to an internet source near you! XD

 

`Til next time.

 

Ender