InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Double Vision ❯ Chapter 38 ( Chapter 37 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

All the measuring had paid off, the slayer uniform fit like a black leather glove, but did not restrict her movement in any way. She came out of the little dressing room to show the boys. “I miss full-length mirrors. I’d really like to be able to see what this looks like.” She twisted this way and that, trying to get a view of how she looked in the outfit. Suddenly, in the place of the kitsune that had been there the moment before, there appeared in front of her a stunning dark-haired girl, with big wide eyes and high cheekbones. She was dressed from head to toe in skin-tight black leather. “Shippou, that’s not really what I look like.” Kagome blushed. There was no way that was her…

The girl disappeared, and was replaced by her foster son. “You look really hot, Kagome.”

The tailor’s wife left the room and returned with a leaf-green kimono. “Try wearing this over the uniform.” The kimono was made of very light silk, and was much looser than Sango’s had been.

Kohaku whistled softly. “You look perfect, Kagome.”

After leaving the tailor, they went to the armorer. Kohaku wanted to find Kagome a chisakatana (short katana) so that she would have a suitable weapon for fighting up-close and personal. The daikyu he had purchased for her before was a powerful weapon, but bows are not appropriate for close-quarters combat. He looked at the weapons. Since it was a demon village, most of the swords were nodachi and okatana, too long and heavy for the human girl. The armorer, who introduced himself as Ken, suggested they visit the pawnshop. Kagome had never been inside a pawnshop, and was surprised at the number and variety of weapons to be found there. She was fascinated by the tessen. Kagura had used the tessen to great effect. Of course, the tessen Kagura had used was enchanted. “Kohaku, do you think you could teach me to use the tessen? Perhaps I could learn to channel my powers through it.” Kohaku did not like the tessen, it reminded him too much of Kagura. He and Kagura had had a very complicated relationship, and he didn’t want what he had with Kagome to be tainted by memories of the wind witch.

The pawnbroker pointed out an impressive collection of kansashi. Kohaku called Kagome over, and added several of the six-inch hairpins to her updo, which she had chosen to show off her jeweled hair sticks. “I will show you how to use them later.”

He continued to poke around, until he heard Kagome cry out softly. “What about this sword, Kohaku?” The sword was much shorter and lighter than the Tetsusaiga, its blad only about two feet in length, but possessed the same curved shape as the big sword in its transformed state. It seemed to call out to her. It was definitely a demon sword, but could it be sentient? Kohaku came over, and hefted the sword. It appeared to be of excellent quality.

The pawnbroker rubbed his hands together, and said unctuously, “An excellent choice, young master and mistress. This chisakatana was made for a very prominent and powerful family, and was passed down for generations. The last owner was financially embarrassed and left it with me years ago. I am pleased it has finally found a suitable owner.” Kohaku stepped outside, followed by Kagome, Shippou, and the pawnbroker. He plucked a red hair from Shippou’s tail, held it high in the air, and let it drift downward. He swiftly swung the sword, cutting the hair cleanly in half. Kagome gasped at Kohaku’s speed. It was not the first time that she had thought he was as fast as a panther demon. Surely no human could possess such reflexes.

“How much?” Kohaku asked. Kagome wandered off to take another look at the contents of the shop. She was sure the requisite haggling would take some time. Near the back of the shop she found something that took her breath away. Tossed negligently in a neglected corner, covered in dust, was a leather pack. It seemed to be made of material similar to her slayer’s uniform, and had two straps, like her old yellow backpack. She dusted it off, and shrugged her shoulders into the straps. It fit perfectly. Smaller than her old pack, she was nonetheless sure she could fit everything she needed inside it. All it would take was a very small spell.

She returned to Kohaku and the pawnbroker, who seemed to have come to an agreement, and asked the price of the pack. “Consider it a gift. Such a pretty girl deserves anything her heart desires.” The old demon winked at Kohaku, who blushed. Kagome thanked him nicely, thinking he was kind of a letch. She was glad she was wearing the green kimono over the revealing slayer’s uniform.

On the way back to the cave, the trio picked up their snares. As they walked, Kohaku gave Kagome some basic instruction on how to wield her new weapon. “Kagome, don’t hold the sword like Inuyasha. He was a very bad role model for swordsmanship.” There was a crashing, as if trees and brush were being broken off, and a battered and bleeding Inuyasha stormed into their midst, his breathing rough, eyes glowing crimson, and his fangs and claws hideously enlarged. Jagged stripes adorned his cheeks. He had obviously gone feral.

Kohaku stepped forward, pushing Kagome behind him. He didn’t want to use his bone on Inuyasha, but would do so to protect Kagome if he had to. Kagome peeked out from behind Kohaku, her new sword still clutched in both hands. Inuyasha cried out in a rage “MINE!” and lunged for the pair. Shippou stood back. In his experience, Kagome was the only one who could calm Inuyasha’s beast. Kohaku leapt forward to meet the much larger demon’s charge. He used the heavy shaft of his weapon to bludgeon Inuyasha. He could not bring himself to use the blade against him, in spite of the conflict surrounding Rin and Kagome. Inuyasha had no such compunctions. His huge, sharp claws ripped through Kohaku’s side. The smell of his opponent’s blood made him even more aggressive. He flipped the slayer to the ground, pounced on him, and drew back to bury his fangs in the boy’s neck. Kagome reacted on instinct. She darted forward, swinging her new sword with unexpected skill. As Inuyasha’s fangs sank into Kohaku’s flesh, the sword cut through the demon’s left arm like a knife through butter. All action ceased. Inuyasha howled with agony and ran into the forest. His severed limb lay twitching in the churned-up mud and snow and blood. Kagome kneeled over Kohaku. He was bleeding very badly from the claw wounds in his side and the bite on his neck.

The little priestess had learned to use her powers for healing, but could not perform miracles. She concentrated, hoping to be able to stanch the bleeding long enough to get him back to the cave, where she could clean the wounds and stitch them up properly. Her hands were slowly engulfed in a soft pink glow. She placed her palms gently over the claw marks. It took some time, but the bleeding abated. She moved on to his neck. Fortunately, the flesh had not been torn too badly. The bite mark was fairly clean, but it was deep. The bleeding was very bad, and it took longer to stop. Once she felt she had done all she could under the conditions, she asked Shippou to carry Kohaku back to the cave. Shippou transformed into a large crow, and crouched down so Kagome could drape the boy over his back.