InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hanyou of the Future ❯ Into the Mix ( Chapter 13 )

AN: Thank you to my beta, Isis-Kitty!

Hanyou of the Future

Chapter Thirteen: Into the Mix

 

As Inuyasha rushed to the scene in front of the club, he was shocked to find Takeda Oogami alive and well, chatting up the mobsters who had supposedly kidnapped him. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, plopping right in front of him with a questioning glare.

 

"Ah, Inu-chan, so good to see you again," Takeda said sweetly, though his voice dripped with poison. His usual effeminate, happy-go-lucky disposition had immediately disappeared, as he approached Inuyasha challengingly.

 

"What the hell is going on? Riho said you were in trouble," Inuyasha snapped. His eyes darted around the meaty guys surrounding Oogami and standing in front of the black van, ready for a fight. "Who the fuck are they?"

 

"Well, Riho is a little dense. As you can see, I am certainly not in trouble," Takeda purred. The men around him laughed. Inuyasha's eyes widened. It was like they were his underlings!

 

Inuyasha started to back away, fearful for Kagome. Instinct told him that he'd better find her soon if Riho and Takeda were obviously up to something, and he began to spin around on his heel, ready to jet back to the alley.

 

"Where are you going Inuyasha? Wouldn't you like to know what we're up to?" Energy in the air spiked, causing Inuyasha's ears to twitch. His mind screamed `Demon!', and he turned back around to see Takeda's aura glowing.

 

"You fucking bastard! I knew there wasn't something right about you," Inuyasha spat, pointing a finger at Takeda. Inuyasha looked around, sizing up his opponents. Finally, he began to feel inadequate lounging in modern street clothes while his fire rat kimono and Tessaiga were back at Kagome's house. Sure, he could probably take out these jerks with his claws and a lot of improvisation, but he knew that he was somewhat vulnerable without his sword and fire rat.

 

And if his demon blood got out of hand...

 

"Here she is boss!" a voice called behind him, and Inuyasha spun around to see a large goon carrying Kagome over his shoulder. He growled, his blood rising to see his precious Kagome captured and carried like some sack of meat. She was unconscious too, which only fueled his anger.

 

"You assholes! What have you done to Kagome? I'll tear you limb from limb!" He lashed at them and ran straight for the man holding Kagome, ready to set her free. However, he was suddenly stopped but an unexpected barrier of electricity, which shocked him in the air and sent him backward on his hind end.

 

Immediately, Inuyasha jumped up from the ground, clenching his fists as the men circled around him, looming over him and ready to pounce. He inwardly harrumphed. This fight was going to get messy.

 

"That's enough, Inuyasha," Takeda ordered with his voice dominant and controlled. "You better stand down or we'll hurt your pretty little miko."

 Inuyasha looked up, pissed and ready to charge anyway. When he noticed Riho behind the guy carrying Kagome, he glared at her - having no doubts to attack her, woman or not. “You bitch!”

Riho frowned at him with deep shame in her eyes. She looked away awkwardly from Inuyasha's accusing gaze, and she moved behind one of the goons, out of sight. Takeda chuckled behind him.

“Ah, don't blame her, Inu-chan. She's doing this out of a contract to save her brother.” Takeda crossed his arms and smiled wickedly. “So pathetic.”

"What the fuck do you want?" Inuyasha raged at him, turning around and moving within inches of Takeda's face. He tried to grab a hand at him, but the electric field was pulsing around Takeda, holding him back.

 

"What we want is for you to cooperate." Takeda shot a glance to Kagome's unconscious form and met Inuyasha's gaze again. "Let's just say our boss has certain interests concerning the Higurashi shrine and its inhabitants." He chuckled arrogantly. "It was so easy to get close to you, Inuyasha. Did you know that?"

 

"Shut up! Just let Kagome go, and I'll talk to your boss," Inuyasha sneered, his eyes still flickering to Kagome's position.

 

"Oh, it's going to take a lot more than that to make our boss happy. You both have to come, and there will be no resistance," Takeda said, wiggling a finger at him. A stream of lightning ignited in his hand.

 

"You're the demon I've been sensing, aren't you!" Inuyasha announced.

 

"Actually, I'm more a hanyou than a demon," Takeda answered, and he shut his eyes, and his face suddenly morphed right before him. Inuyasha watched suspiciously as Takeda's true form was revealed. Two demonic markings were on his forehead, and clouds buzzed at his feet. His once dark eyes had turned blood red.

 

"You're a thunder hanyou," Inuyasha observed. "But how were you able to mask your youki?"

 

Takeda grinned widely. "You have much to learn about modern era demons, Inu-chan. Did you think you were the last one?" Inuyasha glared. "Don't be a fool. We're everywhere, and there are a lot more of us than you think."

 

"So!" Inuyasha snorted. "What does this have to do with Kagome and me?"

 

"Patience, my friend." Takeda spoke to him in mock soothing. He turned to his goons and snapped his head to the black van. Takeda met Inuyasha's gaze again, danger flickering within his carmine eyes. "It's time to go. My boss wants to see you."

 

"Fuck!" Inuyasha spat, launching a spit ball at his feet. "Fine. I'll go see him. But I'm warning you to not mess with Kagome or your boss will regret it."

 

Takeda's guffaws echoed in the hanyou's ear. "You're really sure of yourself, aren't you? Be warned, inu-hanyou. My boss is someone not to be trifled with."

 

"Keh! I've defeated worse! Ever hear of a hanyou named Naraku?" Inuyasha's golden eyes were just as intense. He began to follow behind the goon who put Kagome inside the back of the van. Takeda continued to watch him.

 

"Of course, which is the interesting part of this," Takeda said. He filed into the vehicle behind Inuyasha, who immediately took the seat to Kagome's side. The moment his arm brushed against hers, she began to wake, a pained guttural noise emitting from her throat.

 

"Wha...Inuyasha?" she said sleepily, her voice crackling. She blinked her eyes open and vigorously looked around. When the situation became clear, she gaped at her captors and leaned into Inuyasha instinctively. Her eyes wandered over the forms of Takeda and several large men she didn't recognize. Youki crackled intensely inside, making her holy powers inwardly shiver. Her attention moved to the front of the van, and she noticed Riho in the passenger seat, giving the duo an anguished look.

 

"Kagome..." Inuyasha began, concerned for her health. Kagome clutched Inuyasha's arm and scrutinized at their captors. Her eyes fell on Takeda, but he looked slightly different.

 

"What's going on? Did Riho...?"

 

"They betrayed us, Kagome. They were in it from the start." Inuyasha caught Takeda smiling smugly.

 

"They're youkai," Kagome said, and Inuyasha nodded beside her.

 

"It's a pleasure to be in your presence, famous miko Kagome Higurashi," Takeda said, bowing lightly. His electricity charged at her, scaring her back against the seat.

 

"Cut the bullshit, Oogami!" Inuyasha snarled, putting a protective arm in front of Kagome. "Now just what does your boss want anyway?" Inuyasha bared his teeth, but he tried to remain calm. He wanted to rip off the heads of everyone in this van, but he thought it best to quell his rising youki. He didn't have his sword to protect him or Kagome from his unbridled rage. For Kagome's sake, he'd play along with these assholes until he met the boss. Then, he was going to rip him with his claws and ask questions later.

   

"As you know already, the Shikon no Tama is in this era. My boss knows this, and many other demons across the world know this, thanks to the internet and black market channels. However, even though many demons are salivating to get their paws on the jewel, only one youkai will actually get it."

 

"Lemme guess, your boss?" Inuyasha droned. He was starting to get sick of how wonderful this elusive boss was supposed to be. He wondered if his minions would consider him so wonderful once he pounded his fist through his skull. But all in due time.

 

"Yes. You see, my boss is the only deserving youkai to gain the jewel. And when he does, he'll unleash a demonic stronghold onto the world, and humans will no longer be in control. Persecuted hanyou and exiled demons will rise to the forefront, and humans will bow to their feet, begging for mercy." Takeda's eyes sparkled. "And my boss will be their compassionate ruler, proud and strong."

 

Inuyasha grunted. "It's the same old shit, isn't it? You bad guys are all the same. It's not like he's the first demon to want the jewel to rule the world. Keh! Pathetic." He spat at his feet again. Oogami frowned at him with distaste.

He gave Inuyasha a dangerous look and continued with his story. “It does not matter what you think, inu-hanyou. Once we retrieve the jewel from your shrine, you and whatever other adversary that challenges us will be powerless.”

After mentioning the Higurashi shrine, Kagome shot Inuyasha an uncomfortable look, which only pleased Takeda more.

“So, the jewel is hidden somewhere at the shrine?” Takeda chuckled. “You might have stalled our man for a short time after arriving at the club, but we're sending someone else there right now.” Takeda leaned in and addressed them in a malicious whisper. “And he'll tear through the shrine and leave nothing and no one in tact until he finds it.”

“No! My family!” Kagome shrieked, and she lunged at Takeda instinctively. Inuyasha quickly pulled her back, saving her from a stream of electricity charging right in front of her nose.

Takeda crowed again loudly, and Kagome slumped back into Inuyasha's arms with fear and anguish. She turned her head, and began to bawl into his shirt as he clutched her tightly. Inuyasha glared at Takeda fiercely, watching their kidnappers with battle on his brain.

`No one makes Kagome cry like this. These bastards are all going to pay.'

--

Three dark figures stood above the top of a manufacturing building, peering through binoculars at a dark van of particular interest creeping down the highway.

“Here they come,” one of them said, running his hands through dark, layered hair. His two comrades rolled their eyes at him. He was always touching his hair.

“Do we attack?” said another with a large white Mohawk. As he shifted in his spot, his metal chains beat against his leather coat, clanging together.

“We haven't gotten word yet from the boss,” answered the other one, with salt and pepper unkempt hair slightly covering his face. He looked at his superior with expectation, and in turn, the man only glowered.

“What's taking that bastard so long? They're practically right in front of us!” Suddenly, his cell phone went off, and he put the binoculars quickly away. “Yes?” he answered, and his blue eyes shot to his comrades, indicating that it was just the call they needed.

“Yep, they definitely got them. They're on their way to their boss now. And yes, it's Takeda behind it all.” The blue-eyed tanned youkai paused. “You don't need to tell me that! I've wanted to ice this guy from the beginning.” He paused again, and his subordinates looked on in curiosity, wishing they could hear the conversation. “Alright, we'll do it. Permission to use the Neutralization Cannon OX-600?” He smiled, his fangs showing. “Good. We're on it. See you back at Central in two.”

After flipping off his phone, the leader turned to his men and smiled excitedly. “Get the cannon ready. We're going to buzz the hell out of them.”

“But won't the cannon hurt the miko and inu-hanyou too?” the one with the Mohawk had asked.

His superior shrugged with a small glint of delight apparent in his cobalt eyes. “He doesn't seem to think they'll be hurt from it, just stunned enough so we can grab them and get them out of there.” The other one looked at him skeptically. “Don't worry, she'll be fine.” He smiled with reassurance, and hesitantly, they moved to get the cannon ready.

--

Suddenly, the van jarred and came to an abrupt stop. Takeda swore, his energy flaring slightly within the van. Inuyasha moved to shield Kagome, feeling a sizzle on the ends of his hair.

“What's going on? Why are we stopped?” Takeda yelled, craning his neck to the front.

“I'm sorry, boss, but there are three guys in front, blocking our path.”

“Well, run right through them, idiots!” Takeda snapped, perturbed at their caution.

“We can't, Oogami-san,” Riho said, still pouting from betraying Inuyasha and Kagome. “It's the Vigilantes.”

“Damn!” he swore, and Inuyasha saw Takeda seriously flustered for the first time. These Vigilantes sounded like an enemy to their boss, and Inuyasha thought the timing couldn't be more perfect.

“Everyone transform and use your Youki Boosters. Someone put up a Level 3 barrier quick!” Takeda yelled at his underlings, and they scrambled to move. Yet, Riho stayed frozen in her spot, looking at their adversaries with a pale face.

“Um… I don't think a simple barrier is going to work,” she said, her voice trembling.

“Why the hell not?” And Takeda had climbed up to the front to get a better view of them. His eyes widened when he realized what Riho met. “Shit!”

One warning shot of green plasma-like energy was launched in their direction, barely skimming the front door handle of the van.

“They're playing with us!” Takeda shouted, and Inuyasha could hear distinct hooting from outside the van. He clutched Kagome tightly, and she trembled against him, not sure what to make of this new development.

Another shot was fired, and Inuyasha watched it directly as it streamed toward the front window of the van. Riho and the driver screamed, turning away to shield themselves. This one wasn't going to miss.

The van jangled uncontrollably, and as the plasma struck the metal of van and conducted the energy throughout the inside, everyone screamed in pain as the shock scratched at their nerves.

Inuyasha winced as he too felt pain - an incredible ache that shot through his youki, zapping his power and causing dizziness. He tried to stay strong for Kagome, who screamed with tears streaming down her cheeks, glowing pink and then fading as the plasma absorbed it. He watched her fall unconscious, and his own eyes started to feel heavy from the blow.

And in between slumber and the fight to stay awake, Inuyasha felt strong hands pull at him and Kagome. There was a laugh echoing in his head, and the voice started to sound familiar.

He sniffed lightly, and the scent of their rescuers seemed recognizable. Yet his nose wrinkled, and he fought his own unconsciousness futilely as Kagome was taken from his arms.

Darkness crept over his eyes as he hung onto his last thought. Whoever their saviors were, he sure didn't like the smell of them.

To Be Continued…