InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Into the Fire ❯ Battle on the Mountain of Gods-Part2 ( Chapter 23 )

Title: Into the Fire

Author: Chiaztolite

Rating: NC-17/M for lemon, rape, and violence

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Inuyasha

 

Into the Fire

 

Recap from Chapter 22:

 

With the sole of his foot he crushed her stretched out hand, ripping a sharp cry from her mouth. He towered above her with his sword raised high, its deadly sharp tip was aimed at the top of her head. He was like a death god, ready to end the life of his victim and take her soul to the darkness of the afterlife. The sight of the shimmering blade soaring above her was enough to make her blood run cold, to make her breath caught within her throat.

 

“…Die…” He simply hissed before he plunged the sword downward, aiming to spear that spot between those two wide emerald eyes…

 

 

Chapter 23: Battle on the Mountain of Gods - Part 2

 

She could barely feel it when the very tip of the sword pierced her forehead, fear had rendered her whole body numb. At that most terrifying moment she had ever experienced in her life, she forgot to breathe. Her heart forgot to continue beating. She was too terrified to even tremble in fear, her body was as still as a stone. She waited and waited, waited for the sword of death to send her to eternal oblivion. It took her quite some time to realize that the sword had stopped before it skewered her head with its blade. It took her some time to realize that she was indeed, still in the realm of the living. When her senses returned, she could feel the pain in where the blade kissed her, feel the warmth of her own blood that trickled from her forehead to her chin. Those red droplets dripped onto the floor, forming a small puddle of blood on the tatami mat.

 

What happened? She was certain that her life was over, her children would not have their chance to breathe their first breath. Raising the level of her vision, she stared straight at the male who she thought was so determined to impale her to death. What she saw did nothing to comfort her, but made her stare at him in disbelief. What she witnessed made her body shook with bewilderment and fear.

 

Shiiyu stood there with his teeth bared, his whole body trembled as he strived to push his sword deeper into her head. Yet, no matter how much he tried, his arm would not obey his command.

 

“…Damn…you…” He growled between his clenched teeth. “…Why…Why can't you just sleep quietly…?” He spoke between labored breaths. The sound that came out of his twisted mouth was shaky and incoherent.

 

Squirming and twisting as if in unbearable pain, he staggered backwards, inevitably pulling Tenken along with him. His shaky hand forced him to release his grip, to let the sword fall on the floor. With both hands, he gripped his scrunched face that appeared almost grotesque, pulling his hair as if he had completely gone insane. The sword was discarded. Yet, even without any weapon pointed at her forehead, Shouri was still unable to breathe the air of relief. Though unarmed, the male seemed more dangerous than ever. The crazed male looked almost possessed, as if consumed by madness.

 

Shouri crawled away from the writhing male, she dragged her body until she felt the unyielding plane of a wall pressed against her back. She felt the cold perspiration that drenched her body, a result of prolonged fear and the venomous curse she had to endure. She leaned the back of her head against the wall, striving to stay conscious even though her vision had turned cloudy. She knew she could not loose herself to oblivion, not when her children's lives were at the hand of this deranged monster. Her pair of hazy eyes watched the creature slammed his back against the hard surface of the opposite wall over and over again.

 

“…Get out…”

 

A familiar voice that came out of his mouth caused Shouri to stare at his drooped head in disbelief. For a moment, she could not believe her own hearing. For a moment, she thought what she heard was an illusion born from an unanswered wish.

 

“…Get out…”

 

She heard it again, a whisper that was more pronounced than before. It was his voice. Ryoushin's voice, there was no mistake in it. She sensed her heart leaped with immeasurable happiness and relief, though the joy lasted only for a brief moment. Her body lurched forward when she felt the world around her swirled, her body was no longer strong enough to keep its posture. She did not even realize when her front slammed against the floor, the thick layer of cloud that blanketed her mind had rendered her senses dull and numb.

 

“Get out!!” The deranged male shouted as he smashed his own body against the wall. “GET OUT!!”

 

Though she was so close to unconsciousness, Shouri was able to realize Ryoushin's struggle to reclaim his existence. The way he violently slammed himself against the hard plane behind him, his enraged voice that commanded Shiiyu to leave his body… They were enough proof that her mate had returned from the oblivion. She watched him, though her eyes could no longer see anything but haze. She could hear him, though his voice seemed to come from a far away place. Everything turned to blur before they all disappeared into the darkness… She tried to listen but his voice was nothing but dim, distant echoes. Her arm reached out to touch him, but it was only the empty air that she grasped within her fingers.

 

`…Beloved…' She uttered her soundless whisper before she surrendered herself to the dark realm of nothingness. Her hand that was tugging the emptiness fell limp next to her spent body…

 

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He fell on his knees, feeling utterly exhausted. Beads of cold perspiration dampened his body, strands of golden hair were pasted on his forehead. He stayed there, striving to calm his labored breathing, trying to grasp a sense of what was taking place. It took a while for his youkai senses to return. His surrounding… It was dark. The air he breathed was filled with unpleasant odor of dry blood and scorched wood.

 

Then he cringed. Pain. It was pain he felt once he succeeded in reclaiming his existence. His breath was caught in his throat as he strived to breathe through the pain. He raised his left hand, a pair of troubled sapphire eyes stared at the crushed, tattered flesh of his palm. The thick scent of blood, his own blood, assaulted his nose. His formerly white kimono had turned crimson from the red dye that kept flowing from the wound on his left chest. He lowered his shredded limb, the sight of Shouri startled him. His mate was on the floor, her silver mane veiled most of her face. His heart skipped a beat as he saw her lying still, completely motionless.

 

He felt his yearning to run to her. It was an urge stronger than life itself that forced him to rise abruptly to his feet. He winced when his sudden move worsened the wound on his chest. Writhing silently, he pressed his palm against the wound, trying to stop his blood from gushing forth. His eyes never left the motionless female as he struggled to take one small step after another, slowly bridging the distance between them. He needed to see… He needed to convince himself that she was indeed, still alive. To make sure that she was just unconscious, that she was still with him. How she survived the slaughter, why she was alive even after he pierced her heart, it was still a mystery to him. Whatever miracle brought her back to life, he was grateful for it. Somehow, her voice had reached him, lured him out of the darkest corner of his hiding place, pulled him to emerge to the surface of consciousness.

 

He coughed when the vivid taste of blood filled his mouth. Suddenly he was reminded of the wounds his weakened body had to endure. The wooden dagger that holed his chest lay not so far from his feet. Though weak, he forced himself to smile.

 

`…You did the right thing, Shouri…' He whispered inwardly.

 

A chuckle, evil laughter that sounded familiar startled him, caused him to halt his step. Shouri was still lying motionlessly beyond his reach. As familiar as it was, this time it sounded more real than ever. He looked up, eyes narrowed in unsuppressed anger when he saw the owner of the eerie laughter.

 

Shiiyu, the spirit who had resided within his body for 300 years…Ryoushin froze as his blazing sapphire eyes observed the male form standing a few feet away from him. He had almost forgotten what Shiiyu looked like, for he had not seen the devil's form since his childhood. It was just that one time he saw him, though it was only one brief moment before he collapsed after breaking the seal that kept this curse chained. At that time, he had no opportunity to observe him. A vicious smile, scorching fire… Those were all he remembered before he lost consciousness.

 

But now… he had the chance to drink in the sight of his new nemesis. Ryoushin was quite baffled to see how young the male looked. He could not be any more than 500 years old when he was killed. The vicious smile was still there, smothered on those perfectly sculpted lips. His eyes were in a deep, deep shade of red. The shape of those eyes was so much like his own, sharp yet graceful. Feline's eyes, predator's eyes… His mane was in the color of the night. Those wavy locks of hair hung loosely just below the juncture of his neck and shoulder, framing a face that was both handsome and cruel.

 

“Oh…You've grown up well…” Ryoushin startled when he heard his opponent chuckled. He narrowed his sapphire eyes in suspicion when he saw Shiiyu's grin widened. “The last time I saw you, you were nothing but a terrified cub who had just lost his parents…”

 

“I bet no one has ever told you…” Shiiyu continued. “…how you look so much like your great grandfather. The one who killed me and sealed my soul…”

 

“…What is the point of this nostalgia, Shiiyu?” The tiger asked, sounding very much impatient due to the meaningless prattle.

 

“Even after death, I am still quite fortunate…” Shiiyu chuckled, paying no heed to the question. “… that at least one of his descendants is still alive…” All traces of amusement had disappeared from his voice when he continued,

 

“You should have remained asleep, boy… I would have granted you the power you have always dreamed of…”

 

Ryoushin winced at those words. He tightened his fists, digging the tip of his own claws into the flesh of his palms.

 

“…It was a foolish thing I did 300 years ago…” He hissed between his clenched teeth. “If only I had known better… I would not have trusted a lowly creature such as yourself… A creature who had stolen the sword of the clan he was supposed to serve… A creature who had annihilated his own pack to achieve his foolish ambition…!”

 

“How arrogant…” Shiiyu hissed. “Foolish ambition, you said…? Have you forgotten the reason you were cursed in the first place, boy…?” Again, he chuckled and shook his raven head. “You seek me out for power…” He said. “It was the exact same reason why I did what I did a long time ago… Then tell me… What makes you so different?”

 

Ryoushin narrowed his eyes at the mention of that particular tragedy of his past, yet found no words to counter Shiiyu's verbal attack. His claws were digging deeper and deeper into his palms.

 

“But then, even after I have granted your wish…” Shiiyu continued. “Even after I made my power available to you, you chose to wait for 300 years to get your revenge… You were more concerned with protecting your wench and your unborn cubs, yet you failed at that…” A wicked smile appeared on those lips, adding more cruelty to his face. “And when you killed them…you failed at that as well…”

 

He shifted his gaze from the tiger to the unconscious female that was still lying on the floor, his pair of cunning scarlet eyes narrowed. She was certainly quite enjoyable to toy with, and he had had his way with her. But he had no use for her from now on. Perhaps he should do Ryoushin a favor and do the task the blond tiger could not complete? Besides… would it not be interesting to see that boy's face as he watched his mate's death for the second time?

 

`Yes… wouldn't that be such a lovely sight?' He whispered inwardly, the smile on his face grew wider.

 

Ryoushin frowned. His orbs keenly followed Shiiyu's vision. Those sapphire eyes narrowed in suspicion when he saw where the black haired feline was staring. Shouri lay at the end of the sightline, still unconscious, looking so frail and helpless. Could it be that Shiiyu was aiming to harm her once more, taking advantage of her feeble state? His question was soon answered, for Shiiyu opened his tightened palm, revealing a ball of scorching fire that was ready to be discharged. The panther youkai did not even hesitate for one moment. He launched his flame, aiming precisely at Shouri's inert body. With speed as swift as lightning, the blazing ball of flame flew to destroy, to burn its target to ashes.

 

The enclosed chamber was filled with smoke, the smell of scorched wood was even more vivid in the air when the flame smashed into its aim. Shiiyu waited until the fire he had ignited diminished. Gradually, the smoke and blaze disappeared, and he was left frowning at the sight before him. He had expected to see the female inuyoukai burnt to death from his fire. But instead, it was the tiger he saw, kneeling between him and the unconscious female inu. Judging from the scorched clothing, the body that was writhing from the pain, there was no doubt that the tiger had sacrificed himself to receive the blow intended for his mate.

 

With eyes narrowed into crimson slits, Shiiyu observed the male who was obviously at his limit. Though unwilling, the raven-haired feline had to applaud Ryoushin's resolution to stay alive. Not many could withstand his blow head on and survive, not with all those other wounds… But with so many severe injuries, not to mention the fatal one on his left chest, it was only a matter of time until the tiger collapsed on the floor and breathed his last breath.

 

“…You… have hurt her…enough…” Ryoushin hissed between his clenched teeth, the pain rendered his voice croaky.

 

With so much pain, there was no way he could hold his voice strong, yet the fervent anger in his eyes burned still. His right arm was shielding his abdomen that had taken Shiiyu's blow straight on. It was almost too much, those wounds his kneeling body had to endure. The old ones had yet to heal and he had already added another severe one.

 

“Fool…” Shiiyu hissed. When he observed the tiger who was obviously protecting the female inu, his eyes narrowed in what could only be described as anger. “You are at your limit…” He said. “With that worn out body, you will not able to fight for yourself, let alone protecting that mate of yours…”

 

“I cannot let you get your hands on her…” Ryoushin growled. “Not… even… one strand of her hair…” He gritted his teeth as he strived to bring himself to his feet. Shiiyu grinned in satisfaction when he saw those shaky legs that were no longer strong enough to bear the load of a body. It was obvious the tiger could barely stand. Blood was still flowing profusely from the wound on his chest, his left hand was virtually destroyed. His breathing was strenuous, a proof that his body was utterly exhausted, dying for a chance to recuperate. He was by no means in the right condition to fight. To begin another duel was the same with a march to death.

 

“Isn't it nice of your beloved mate to do me such a big favor?” Shiiyu chuckled. “Every single wound on your body was a gift from her… She practically ensures my victory and sends you to death with her own hands…”

 

“So surprised, I was…” He continued, the grin still pasted on his face. “…to learn that she had enough spirit in her to fight me, although the night before she was as helpless as a newly-born pup…”

 

Ryoushin lowered his head at the mention of “the night before”, Shouri's deep wounds filled his thought. Even with his eyes closed, he could still see it… All those gashes and cuts that marred her skin… Her painful, heart-wrenching cries when he pressed her body against his…

 

The night before… What on earth happened back then…?

 

“I wish you could've seen it, heard the sounds she made…” Shiiyu's voice caused his eyes to part slightly. With a malicious grin, the raven haired panther said, “…Do you know…? Your mate screamed like the cheapest whore as I raped her over and over again…”

 

Ryoushin's eyes shot open when those words reached his ears. An angry growl was formed in the hollow of his throat as his vision slowly turned red. The tiger's pair of troubled cerulean blue eyes had now turned crimson, his blood was boiling, his voice was soaked in anger as he roared his opponent's name.

 

“SHIIYU…!!”

 

He lunged, his claws were extended to their full length, sharp and deathly like the blade of the swiftest sword. His vision was darkened by his thick wrath that he failed to see the vicious grin on Shiiyu's lips. His arm stretched out, his claws were aiming to strike his opponent's vital limb. Shiiyu stood waiting, motionless, as if he could not sense Ryoushin's killing intention. His face remained calm, no wince or painful cringe, even when those razor-sharp claws sank deep into his throat.

 

Ryoushin could feel his claws piercing the yielding flesh. Deep, deep, and even deeper… He could see nothing but red, hear nothing but the roar of his own anguish. The force of his attack pushed them both backwards, crushing Shiiyu's back against the hard plane of the wall. So deep was the stab that those five claws emerged from the nape of his neck, that the tip of those talons pierced the wall. The tiger stopped. His peaked up rage had rendered his breathing labored, his body trembling. They were standing so close to each other, he and this… thing he should not even called a `creature'. And yet, he felt nothing but cold air surrounding him. Even the supple flesh that encased his claws felt so unreal.

 

Soon enough, the scarlet fog that had filled his vision faded, allowing him to gaze at his opponent's face. It was those eyes he first saw, each orb resembled a deep, deep pool of blood. Their color was as red as ever, as alive, as if there was fire burning within them.

 

No, he was not dead yet… Those were not the eyes of a dead soul…

 

He stared at his claws that speared Shiiyu's throat, stared at the spot where his flesh met his opponent's. The sight caused his blood to turn cold. He had expected to see torn, shredded flesh, a neck that was almost lopped off by his own hand. But not even one drop of blood was there, not even one patch of bruised skin. True, he impaled that throat with his razor-sharp claws, but Shiiyu was nowhere close to being harmed. Shiiyu's flesh trapped him there, as if he had buried his hand within a bag of sand. Hot and heavy, he was unable to pull himself free.

 

`…No…' Ryoushin whispered inwardly, his eyes were still staring into those endless depths of red. `…What was I thinking…?'

 

“…Did you just recall what I really am?”

 

He felt the chill running down his spine when he heard Shiiyu spoke. He stood still, his body was motionless even when he felt the icy coldness of Shiiyu's right hand brushing against his cheek. He could not take his eyes away from the face before him, the face that was smiling so viciously as it loomed closer and closer to him.

 

“…Boy…Didn't you know?” Shiiyu whispered, his lips were close to Ryoushin's ear. His left hand that was placed next to the side of his body flexed, preparing his five long, deadly claws. “…That is not how you kill a dead creature…”

 

What happened next, Ryoushin could not tell. The pain he felt on his abdomen rendered his other senses numb. His body failed him, lurching forward until his head fell on Shiiyu's shoulder. When he coughed, blood poured out of his gaping mouth. The body that supported him stood unwaveringly, the hand that pierced his abdomen remained within. Shiiyu raised his unoccupied hand and pressed the dying male's head against his shoulder, tightening his embrace around the wilting body.

 

“…How does it feel to have someone's hand stabbed within your body?” He asked softly, a smile was curved on his lips. “…Shouri must have felt the same when your hand pierced her heart, don't you think…?”

 

Shiiyu pushed the limp body away, freeing his hand from the tiger's abdomen, spilling more blood onto the already stained tatami mat. Ryoushin could feel himself staggered backwards, pulling his claws out of his enemy's throat. His cerulean blue orbs were still wide open. Lifeless as they seemed, they stared at nothing other than the male standing before him, smiling in amusement, raising one hand that was coated with thick, red blood…

 

 

To Be Continued…

 

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I apologize for the delay. I'm just really busy with school and I haven't had a lot of time to write. And when I do have time to write, for some reason I always have writer's block. This chapter is not meant to be this short, not to mention that it doesn't have any Sesshoumaru in it. That was not my intention in the first place. But it took me so long to write this much, so I decided to post what I have for now. Again, I'd like to thank the few readers who are still interested in reading this story. Please continue to read on, I will try my best to post the rest of the chapter in a couple of weeks.

 

-Chiaztolite-