InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ InuYasha: The Journey Continues ❯ Chapter 16: Emerging Power ( Chapter 16 )

I don't own InuYasha or any of the main characters. Though it would be nice…

 

Chapter 16: Emerging Power

 

InuYasha stood before the demon, a smile so wide it almost made his face hurt. The new outfit worked perfectly, the acid had no effect. The lizard's only weapon now was that giant ax…and his ability to gather his removed parts once severed. But those were easily dealt with. InuYasha had already destroyed the creature's arm, now it was time to finish the job.

 

“I guess that those clothes of yours aren't just a change of color.” Hakudoshi spat. He couldn't believe it when the hanyou stood up and smiled after getting hit with his creation's acid attack.

 

“At least Naraku seems to have given you brains” InuYasha retorted, hand still ready on Tetsusaiga but still not drawing. He felt no need to just yet. He had not felt this confident when he faced the creature last time. He didn't have long to ponder this thought though, the creature attacked out of blind rage.

 

The demon had raised his ax and was bearing down on the hanyou quickly. InuYasha knew that if he dodged, Kagome and the children would be in danger. He instead sprinted forward, caught the ax handle on the down stroke, and came around with his claws. The demon snarled and jumped back as InuYasha's sharp claws sliced his face. Hakudoshi stared on in amazement.

 

`He had never been this fast before' he thought to himself amazed the hanyou actually made it to within striking distance so quickly.

 

InuYasha didn't stop to think, he drew Tetsusaiga. The blade instantly transformed. He knew he couldn't play around, there were innocent's here and the longer this went on, the worse it could get.

 

“Play time's over scale face” InuYasha growled at the demon.

 

It was still holding its face, snarling and holding its ax out in front to protect itself. The demon hissed and reared back its head. A huge glob of acid shot from its mouth and headed straight for the hanyou.

 

InuYasha held up Tetsusaiga and blocked the spit ball. Acid shot over the blade and splashed onto his haori, it immediately dripped off and onto the ground. The demon looked bewildered. This attack had hurt him so badly before, now it had no effect at all.

 

“Don't just sit there you incompetent oaf…slice him to pieces!!” Hakudoshi shouted from behind the lizard. It snarled and lunged forward, ax ready to cleave InuYasha in two.

 

The blade swung from the side, InuYasha easily parried with Tetsusaiga. They both came around with another swing, their weapons meeting in between them. The resulting crash of metal on metal made the children wail out in fear.

 

“Kagome, get those kids out of here!” InuYasha shouted over his shoulder, never taking his eyes off of the demon.

 

“Right” She said and picked up both children and began to run towards the trees.

 

“I don't think so” Hakudoshi yelled and sliced the air with his pudo. The energy arc flew towards Kagome and InuYasha couldn't move to save her.

 

“KAGOME..GET DOWN!!!” InuYasha shouted

 

She managed to look and see the arc speeding towards her. She held tight to the children and tried to spin away from the attack. There was no way she could avoid it.

 

Then a bright light consumed the area and Sango and Miroku shielded their eyes. InuYasha didn't dare break his stalemate with the lizard to see what had happened but Hakudoshi saw everything. The light subsided and Kagome was on the ground, moaning a little.

 

“You two alright?” Kagome asked while sitting up looking at the kids.

 

“Yeah..” they answered together. “But your arm..” they trailed off.

 

Kagome looked at her right arm and noticed a slice near her bicep. The blood was flowing freely down her arm but she was still alive. `It should have been much worse' she thought to herself. `What happened?'

 

“Kagome!” Sango shouted as her and Miroku rushed over to check on her.

 

“I'm ok, just a scratch” Kagome said standing up and getting the children on Kirara. “Take them to their village and hurry back” she told the fire cat. Kirara growled and took off into the air and over the trees.

 

“I'm alright InuYasha” Kagome shouted towards him, having heard the distress in his voice.

 

“You'll pay for that you little runt” InuYasha growled over the lizard demon, his eyes flashing red smelling the blood that carried Kagome's scent. He flung the demon back about 20 feet in front of Hakudoshi. He raised Tetsusaiga up and behind his arm and the blade instantly turned to diamond.

 

“STEEL BLASTER!” He shouted and let cut his blade through the air. The million shards burst forth and zoomed towards their targets.

 

Everyone watched as, almost in slow motion, InuYasha continued to turn in place with the momentum of his last swing and spun around; bringing the Tetsusaiga around for another shot.

 

“WIND SCAR!” The blades of energy came forth and followed the shards towards Hakudoshi and his creation.

 

The shards landed first; piercing the skin of the demon easily. Hakudoshi leapt away and watched as his demon was sliced into a million pieces. Then the wind scar hit, obliterating every trace that was his creation. He hovered and looked in disbelief. 'How? How did that damn hanyou get powerful enough to launch both of those attacks back to back? Where did he get that kind of speed from?' He decided that escape was better than ending up like his little pet. As he flew away, he looked down at the miko. `That attack should have taken her head off. She couldn't have avoided it with as close as it was…did I really see what I saw….she's not that powerful, is she??'

 

“We'll meet again InuYasha, you got lucky this time.” He shouted as he flew over the tree tops and out of sight.

 

InuYasha sheathed Tetsusaiga and rushed to Kagome's side. Sango was already there applying a field dressing to her wound. InuYasha calmed down seeing Kagome was alright.

 

Miroku walked up and put a hand on InuYasha's shoulder.

 

“Where did that come from?” He asked

 

“What?” InuYasha looked at him confused

 

“That double attack…the Steel Blaster and the Wind Scar! How did you throw them so quickly after one another?” The monk pressed, also shocked by this new ability.

 

“I don't know, I just felt like I could do it. I knew it would work too since that's how I took that beast's arm in our last fight.” InuYasha said matter-of-factly.

 

“It takes a lot of strength and speed to pull off two such powerful attacks in a row like that.” Miroku said.

 

“Well maybe I got stronger some how.” InuYasha said without taking his eyes off of Kagome. Sango was finishing the bandage when Kirara landed next to them and gave a soft growl.

 

“She delivered the children safely to their village.” Sango told everyone.

 

“Your arm ok to hold on if I carry you?” InuYasha asked Kagome as he helped her up.

 

“Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just a scratch…honest.” She said looking at him.

 

“How did you avoid it?” Miroku chimed in.

 

“I don't know, I saw it coming and I was sure there was no way so I closed my eyes and spun to shield the kids and the next thing I know is I'm on the ground and everyone is running towards me.” Kagome said, looking up and trying to think. “I can't believe it only cut me a little.”

 

“Did you notice the bright light when it came close?” Sango asked

 

“No, there was a light?” Kagome looked puzzled.

 

“Yeah there was but I don't know what it was” Miroku said. “But, we can discuss this later, lets head back to Kaede and get some proper herbs on that arm.”

 

As Kagome went to hop on InuYasha's back; she felt light headed and leaned against him.

 

"Are you alright?" InuYasha asked concerned. He turned around and held her up. She held her hand to her head as all the color passed from her face.

 

"You've lost a lot of blood," Sango said feeling her forehead. "You need to lie down and get some rest."

 

InuYasha needed no further encouragement; he picked Kagome up bridal style and began to sprint back towards the village. He was careful not to shake her as he streaked through the woods. Sango and Miroku were right on his tail riding Kirara.

 

They soon made it back to the village where Kaede and Shippo where waiting for them. They're preparation had been fortunate as they saw Kagome's limp, pale body in InuYasha's arms. He laid her down on the bed and backed away while Kaede went to work.

 

"She has lost a good amount of blood," Kaede said aloud. "We'll need to put some poultice on it right away."

 

With that, she unwrapped the wound and began to apply a green paste to it. Once the wound had been completely covered, she redressed it and covered Kagome with a blanket.

 

"She will be fine with a little rest. How did she get this wound anyway?" Kaede asked looking at InuYasha.

 

He turned his head to the side, avoiding her gaze.

"It was Hakudoshi." Sango said. "He attacked her while InuYasha was fighting his creation. She was trying to save some children when it happened."

 

"In all honesty an attack that did that to her arm should have been deadly." Kaede said.

 

"It would have been" Miroku piped up "but there was a bright light before it hit her and she was on the ground with that cut"

 

Kaede looked and pondered it for a moment. She then moved towards Kagome's sleeping form and touched the necklace InuYasha had given her. As soon as her fingers touched it, she was flashed an image. She could only determine it was from the fight earlier. The attack was heading straight for Kagome but then a bright light enveloped the area. The old miko saw the barrier that protected Kagome and how it had only been a split second late in forming, allowing the cut on her arm.

 

She blinked and was back in the hut, looking at Kagome.

 

"Oh dear" she said. "InuYasha...where did you get this?"

 

"Tootsie made it out of some of the diamond shards from my Steel Blaster attack." InuYasha said matter-of-factly.

 

"I thought so," She said. "It has allowed her to tap into more of her miko power. I saw a barrier form just before the attack landed...that's what the light was."

 

Everyone looked at each other and then back at Kagome. InuYasha knelt beside the bed and brushed a stray hair from her face. He leaned down, kissed her on her forehead, and got up. He walked outside and breathed deep. Something in the air caught his nose. Miroku and Sango soon followed out and saw him sniffing the air.

 

"What is it InuYasha?" Sango asked

 

"Kikyo." InuYasha said softly. Just then, a couple of soul collectors could be seen on the horizon, dancing above the trees.

 

"You're not thinking of going to see her, are you?" Miroku asked

 

"I have to." InuYasha said before starting down the road. His eyes were on the ground and his hands were in his sleeves. He walked instead of ran; which Sango found surprising.

 

As he crossed over the hill at the end of the road, Miroku looked towards Sango with a questioning look.

 

"Should we let him go like that, especially with Kagome not feeling well?" He asked

 

"I don't think it's the same as the other times houshi." Sango told him, still watching where InuYasha disappeared over the hill.

 

"You sure?" Miroku asked doubtingly

 

"Yeah" Sango said smiling.

 

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Well that does it for this chapter. Sheesh had a lot to get down on that one. I hope everyone is still enjoying the story. As always, feedback and suggestions are encouraged. I hope to update sooner since my job has become a little less hectic.

 

The next chapter is not for Kikyo lovers...and I'll leave it at that. Next time: Confessions!