InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Goodbye To Romance ❯ A Shot In The Dark Always Creeping Up On You ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I in no way, shape, or form own Inuyasha, or the characters within. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Entertainment.
Goodbye to Romance is a song by Ozzy Osbourne, so I don't even own that.

 

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“The head priest had him chained to a wall. He was being fed on, used to protect the village from a curse they brought down on themselves. So I rescued him. If the village has been wiped out because of that, well, good fucking riddance!”

 

“Inuyasha, you can't mean that,” Kagome said.

 

“The hell I don't.” Inuyasha retorted, “I could have broken the curse before I left, it wasn't a very strong one. I didn't. I let it out. Whatever happened to that village was because of their pent up emotions.”

 

“Innocent people died! Doesn't that mean anything to you anymore?” At Inuyasha's shrug, Kagome continued, “what happened to you?”

 

“You, my supposed friends, decided to mess with my brain.” Inuyasha answered bitterly. “Now, if you'll excuse me, Toshi and I have a long day of traveling tomorrow.” He turned to leave, but was stopped by Kagome's voice.

 

“Wait!” She cried out. “Please stay. At least let us take care of your friend's wounds.”

 

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at the girl, “why? You want to get your hooks into his brain too?”

 

“NO!” Kagome shouted. “I just… I can't stand that things are like this between us. I want to make it right! I know you feel betrayed right now…”

 

“Funny how that happens when there's betrayal.” Inuyasha sneered. “Just stay out of my face. We have a common enemy, so I'm sure we're going to cross paths again, but things will never be right.”

 

Sango dug a pouch out of one of her compartments and threw it at Inuyasha who caught it. “Take it,” she said. “Kaede was worried about the side effects of the Lethe's Bramble returning, she wanted us to give it to you when we ran into each other.”

 

Inuyasha looked at the medicine with distaste and threw it into the bushes. “Do you really think I'm gonna take anything you people give me? I'm not as stupid as you think I am!”

 

Miroku raised his palms trying to calm the situation down, “now Inuyasha. You must trust us on this, we're very worried about a relapse.”

 

“Trust you? You've got to be fucking kidding me. Let's talk about trust for a minute. Not only did you try to control me with herbs and rosaries, but just now you were itching to `take me down' because of the word of one random villager.” Inuyasha scoffed. “You don't deserve my trust. After all, you've never trusted me. I don't even know why I'm still wasting my time with you four. Come on Toshi.”

 

Toshi looked at the spot where the pouch landed and glanced at Inuyasha. Feeling that the medicine could come in handy, he quickly grabbed it and stuffed it into his robes while Inuyasha wasn't looking. `Coming!” He called out and leaped to Inuyasha's side.

 

“There's something else we have to tell you!” Miroku called out. “It's important!”

 

Inuyasha let out a long suffering sigh. “What is it Monk? And make it quick!”

 

“I know you're mad at us right now, and I don't blame you, but please listen. Naraku's come up with something new. It's already killed off Kouga's pack.” Miroku ignored Inuyasha's snort, “This is serious, Inuyasha. He almost got Kouga.”

 

“Surprise, surprise; I wasn't there to save his ass and he nearly got killed. So what?”

 

“You don't get it, Inuyasha! It was one lone human, and he killed almost an entire wolf pack, with no weapons. Naraku gave him some shards and he's using them to his full advantage. Kouga told us that this guy is telekinetic and can use whatever you're feeling to conjure up images to torment you. And he's not even sure that's all of this new guy's power. Kouga described him as almost god-like in his power, and that was before he took Kouga's shards.” Miroku paused for effect, “He's got a really twisted imagination and an insane hatred of demons at his disposal. Be careful.”

 

“Keh. And how exactly do you know this? I don't see Kouga traveling all the way to Kaede's village after almost being killed.” He observed Kagome looking at the ground guiltily, “Oh. I see. You replaced me with him. Well, I hope for his sake that he does his own cooking. Come on, runt” Inuyasha left the clearing, with Toshi in tow.

 

Shippo watched them leave with a depressed look on his face, “but… I'm the runt…” he whispered to himself.

 

----

 

Kikyo's Shinidamacū finally dropped her off outside of Kaede's hut. She paused outside the door for a moment, pondering whether or not to venture inside. After all, neither her little sister nor the people she decided to consort with seemed to like her all that much. Still, she steeled herself and entered. This warning was too important to let fear of rejection get in the way.

 

Kaede was busy attending to Kouga. He was healing quicker than she had estimated, at this rate he'd be completely recovered over a week ahead of schedule. She was still keeping him under heavy sedation however, she didn't want him running after Kagome and the others as she knew he would. It would be too dangerous in this condition. She felt a strange presence and a chill ran down her back. She grabbed a bow and shuffled out into her main room. Pointing it at the shadow she saw standing in her doorway she called out “who goes there? Speak now!”

 

“Are you really going to shoot me sister?” Kikyou said in her usual calm tone.

 

“Kikyo?” Kaede lowered her arrow, “what business do you have here?”

 

“A warning.” She answered simply. “I'm sure you've felt it, there's something unnatural in the air.”

 

“Aye, but I have not been able to discern what. I thought it might be the rise of a new threat that's come to my attention.”

 

“It may be linked, most things are.” Kikyo lost herself in thought for a moment. ”Tell me sister, do you remember your history lessons? About the Guardian?”

 

“Yes,” Kaede replied, not really seeing where this was going.

 

“It's active, I can sense it.” Kikyo stated plainly.

 

“Of course it is. It's a natural force, it must always be active.”

 

“So are hurricanes,” Kikyo responded. “The Guardian is only meant to roam this world at times when it's direly needed. When the demons are out of control and vastly outnumber the humans. That's not the case, and hasn't been now for hundreds of years. Yet, it's active… I fear someone is controlling it.”

 

“But how would such a thing be possible?” Kaede asked, astonished at the thought.

 

“There are rumours… I disregarded them before… There are some that believe that our land was founded because our first emperor discovered how to harness the Guardian's power. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how it was done, just that it's been done.” Kikyo paced around the room, “You can't feel this as acutely as I do… I'm not of the dead, nor the living, I balance on a very fine line. This exploitation of the Guardian has the potential to warp reality. Already I can sense it… There's a barrier between the living and the dead, and a great and powerful demon is starting to punch holes in it… Our world may very well start crumbling.”

 

“Is there anything that can be done?”

 

“For once, I don't know the answer…” Kikyo looked disturbed at this admission. “But we must figure out a way to right things. Tell me of this new threat.”

 

“Aye, let me get some candles. I can already see this will be a sleepless night.”

 

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Inuyasha stomped through the forest, mumbling to himself about stupid humans, and how they all end up turning on you in the end. Toshi watched and listened to him with interest for a few minutes before daring to ask the question that had been bothering him. “Inuyasha,” he flinched at the furious look the older hanyou gave him, but continued, “who were those people? And why did they make you so mad?”

 

Inuyasha sighed, `I guess I owe the kid some explanation,' and plucked Toshi up and placed him on his shoulders while he gathered his thoughts. “I used to fight alongside them. We were on a quest. The same one I'm still on-“

 

“You mean they're after this weapon-thing too?”

 

“No kid, this is just a detour. Listen, it's a long and messy explanation. Let's just say there's a bad man that those people and I want dead. He's hunting for the same things we are, and he's doing some shitty things to gain power.”

 

“But why are you so mad at them?”

 

“There are certain herbs that affect demons differently than humans. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. So no accepting anything from anybody that's not me okay? At least not until I've taught you the difference. They were able to give me one of the bad ones. Repeatedly. While they claimed to be my friends.”

 

“Oh.” Toshi was speechless.

 

“In the end, the only person you can trust is yourself. Remember that.” Inuyasha lectured.

 

“What about you?” Toshi asked. “Should I trust you?”

 

“Keh, I'm looking after you. You got no choice.” Inuyasha decided to change the subject. “That was quite the fight you got into. You've only been out a few days and already you're fighting to a draw against an older demon.” Toshi beamed with pride. “But you should've won. You got into a fist fight with a fucking fox. There's no way he should have been able to lay a hand on you.”

 

“But-”

 

“No buts. There's a reason things like foxes, and tanuki, and ninjas do all that illusion-smoke and mirrors crap. They suck when it comes to hand to hand. You need a lot more practice before you even think about growling at strange demons like you did.”

 

Toshi looked at his feet, ashamed. “I'm sorry. I'll do better.”

 

“At least you didn't lose.” Inuyasha said. “I'll make a fighter out of you yet.”

 

“Assuming you both live that long,” a malicious voice rang out from the shadows.

 

Inuyasha drew his sword, “Who's there?” He relaxed his stance a liitle when a human stepped out. “Who the fuck are you?”

 

“That's not important, you won't be alive long enough to remember who I am.”

 

“I'm supposed to be afraid of one unarmed human?” Inuyasha mocked.

 

The man took out a diamond, and smirked at the hanyou, “I don't need weapons, half-breed. I have a Guardian.” The diamond flashed and a giant dog rushed at Inuyasha.

 

He swung Tessaiga, but the dog dodged out of the way. “So you're the guy…” Inuyasha muttered as he jumped out of the way of a lunge.

 

“I see my reputation is growing. Well after what I did to that wolf pack…”

 

Inuyasha spun around and swung Tessaiga in an arc in what should have been a decapitating blow. But the sword transformed back to its rusted state on contact with the strange dog. “What the hell?” Inuyasha yelled as he tried in vain to make it transform again.

 

“Isn't my pet great? He just eats up that nasty demonic energy. Best of all, by the time it's replenished, you'll be gone!”

 

The dog closed in on its prey and quicker than Inuyasha could even breathe, pounced on him, dissipating on impact.

 

The Nameless Warrior looked on in shock. “What matter of mischief? I must have used him up for the night on those useless cats! No matter, these never run out.” He concentrated on strangling Inuyasha from afar, but nothing happened. The Nameless Warrior stood confused. Why were his powers failing him now?

 

“This just isn't your night, is it?” Inuyasha said with fake sympathy. He lunged forward, landing a punch across his opponent's jaw. The Nameless Warrior flew back and smacked against a tree, toppling it over.

 

The Warrior wiped his eyes free of the blood that was trickling down his forehead. “So you're immune for some reason. I bet your little friend isn't though.” He concentrated on lifting the hanyou child, grinning like a maniac when it worked.

 

Inuyasha saw Toshi floating in mid air and went berserk, jumping on top of the Nameless Warrior before he had any time to react and pummeling him until he dropped the boy. Inuyasha ran over to check on his charge. “Toshi, you okay?”

 

The boy nodded. “My throat's sore though.”

 

Inuyasha removed the amulet the crazy old man had given him earlier that day, and handed it to Toshi. “Listen, I think this amulet's the reason he couldn't hurt me. Take it and find a safe place to hide.”

 

“But-“

 

“Just do it. I'll be fine.” Inuyasha reassured him. “I'm too damn stubborn to die, now go!”

 

Toshi nodded and took off into the woods. Inuyasha turned to face his fallen opponent, only to find him missing. “Oh shit…”

 

“Well that was certainly touching,” a mocking voice rang out. Inuyasha was thrown into a tree and held there. “Giving away your only protection like that, very noble. Not that it'll do any good. I'll hunt down the little mutt and drown it in a river if I have to.”

 

“I'm not done yet you bastard.”

 

“Hush, you. Do I have to sew your lips shut?” The man wore a very cross look on his face. “Important man talking here. Show some respect. So, what kind of lowly whore would have and keep something like you?” Inuyasha growled and tried to force himself off the tree. “Not right in the head I imagine.”

 

“Don't you-“ Inuyasha was interrupted by The Nameless Warrior repeatedly smashing the back of his head into the tree.

 

“What did I say about interrupting? You're not even worth killing. Luckily, the toxins in your body can do it for me.” He concentrated, modifying the poison he found lying dormant in Inuyasha's system. “I just have to make it active again.”

 

The Nameless Warrior removed the force he was exerting on Inuyasha's body. Inuyasha felt his knees crumble as the telltale signs of Lethe's Bramble withdrawal set in again, this time much worse than before. He struggled to his feet and made a weak attack to the human. The Warrior easily dodged Inuyasha and swatted him down, placing a foot on Inuyasha's prone body. The Warrior smirked as Inuyasha struggled to get back up, but was too weak to dislodge the foot. “I see you still need to be taught a lesson on where you rightfully belong.” He looked around, spying a narrow trunked, but sturdy looking tree. He snapped it in half with a thought, throwing the upper half away, turning the tree into one giant stake. He lifted Inuyasha high in the air, moving him over the dull point and slowly forced him down. He laughed with glee as Inuyasha screamed in pain, as the trunk cracked through ribs and muscle as the hanyou sank lower and lower. He admired the impaled hanyou. “I never get tired of doing that.”

 

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After their confrontation with Inuyasha, Kagome and the others decided to continue on to Kaede's village. They were silent the whole way there, finally touching down at dawn. They were met by Kaede and Kikyo. “What news do you bring? Did you find Inuyasha?” Kaede asked.

 

“Let's get inside, we can talk there.” Sango replied, “and yes, we found Inuyasha.”

 

“And…” The old miko prompted.

 

“It could have went better,” Kagome answered, then finally noticed Kikyo. “What's she doing here?”

 

“Well, it appears that there's more going on than we originally thought. Come, there is much to discuss.” Kaede answered.

 

The others moved to go inside the hut, leaving Kagome and Kikyo alone outside.

 

“Kaede told me what you did with the Lethe's Bramble.” Kikyo said out of the blue.

 

“Oh?” Kagome said, not really liking where she thought this conversation would go.

 

“You did the practical thing, for what it's worth.” Kikyo said, “and Inuyasha is nothing if not practical. He'll come around.”

 

“You think we were right, to do what we did?”

 

“I didn't say that. I said you were practical. I pinned him to a tree, I'm in no position to judge right and wrong.”

 

“Not that it matters. He doesn't care if we live or die.” Kagome said sadly.

 

“He cares, he just may not know which one he wants.” Kikyo paused. “I took fifty years away from him… He forgave me.”

 

“That's because he's in love with you.” Kagome pointed out.

 

“He'll forgive you too.” Kikyo said with a sad half-smile.

 

----

 

Toshi sliced and diced his way through the thick overgrown forest. He had tried to find that band of humans last night after Inuyasha had sent him away, but he was unable to retrace their steps, and had gotten a little lost. Now he was worried. It was daybreak and Inuyasha should have found him by now. He ran in the direction he thought he had come from, ignoring the scratches he was getting from the tree branches. Finally, he found a place that looked familiar. He wasn't far away from where he and Inuyasha had separated. He sniffed the air a few times to make sure that strange man was gone. He didn't pick up any human scent, but what he did pick up worried him immensely; Inuyasha's blood.

 

He hurried through the brush, following his nose to Inuyasha. Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks. “No…” He sunk to his knees. His hero, the one who had saved him from that village and was taking care of him, the strongest man he'd ever met… Was hanging limply, his eyes were closed, and blood was pooling on the ground beneath him. He was only held off the ground by the tree that was impaling him.

 

“Not him too…” Toshi whimpered.