InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Thy Enemy ❯ Chapter 10

Love Thy Enemy

 

Forgive my absence, dear readers. My PC is gone for a while, and my parents laptop has only recently alleviated the problem. To make up for it, I drop a fairly-big hint on the actual plot beyond Inuyasha and Kagome - if you can pursue that hint properly, that is. ;)

 

Chapter 10

 

“The war is based on the ancient youkai-miko blood feud. This dates back centuries, to when the two species would try to exterminate each other. Youkai and Miko simply cannot co-exist for extended periods of time, it goes against their very nature. In retrospect it is amazing they held the truce as long as they did.”

 

“But Professor, why did the truce break?”

 

“Well as I said it is their nature to fight each other, there is no long-term peace capable between them. It's like a cat with water, everything about the cat's natural instincts tell it that water is dangerous and to avoid it. Thus, as the miko is the youkai's naturally enemy and vice-versa, it's simply in their instincts to hate each other. I wrote a paper, a few years ago, detailing…”

 

“Fucking asshole doesn't know shit,” Inuyasha cursed, muting the talk show with the egghead Professor talking about his book. He hated it when humans presumed to understand the ways of the youkai. A lot of the youkai around these days were in the history books that same professor had likely studied. He had no right and no place to try and understand them.

 

Standing and moving to the kitchen, Inuyasha opened the fridge and grabbed a beer, popping the cap off and taking a long drink. Three days, so far. Three days of sitting on his ass doing nothing but…well, sitting on his ass. His unofficial vacation was half-over. Sesshomaru had actually called yesterday to check on him. He had given his half-brother a few choice four-letter words. He hated being idle, always had. Sitting around was never his thing, he hadn't been one for inaction before during the truce and wasn't now.

 

Walking back into the living room of the apartment, the TV now showing commercials, Inuyasha glanced around at the boxes lying around. Most were personal possessions he had been forced to leave behind when he left to join the youkai militia. He leaned down to one box and picked up something random. It was a sash from some club
Kagome had joined with him, some sort of eco-saver crap. A small green cloth medal with a gold and red tree was on the sash.

 

The medal on Muso re-entered his mind. Myoga hadn't gotten back to him about those “kun-ko ki-sho” words yet. He trusted the old fool to deliver, he was devoted to the Taisho family if nothing else. Still, Myoga's loyalties weren't entirely absolute, just strong. What if Sesshomaru had gotten to him? Myoga may have been loyal to the Taisho family, but Inuyasha was only half Taisho, Sesshomaru was all.

 

Inuyasha knew he brother knew something about what had happened that night at the party. There was something about Muso and Magatsuhi he didn't like. Myoga had said Magatsuhi was one of the most powerful youkai alive until he had gone into hiding. So why go underground for five centuries and only come back now when you're so strong? Inuyasha shook his head. It didn't make any sense to him, but it did to someone. He unmated the TV. Some scientist guy was on, gesturing to some sort of diagram of something or other.

 

“The research is only the tip of something far greater, we're on the precipice of something incredible. Once we continue the investigation we're going to be making breakthroughs and discoveries unlike anything we could imagine.”

 

“Hm,” Inuyasha grunted, not particularly appreciating the irony of the words. He looked down at the sash in his hands again.

 

“I wonder what Kagome's doing now.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Is that all you've got?”

 

Katanas flashed, and Kagome ducked and sliced, tearing apart the two youkai. The Naginata of Kenkon's holy energy sliced the air in its wake, and the two youkai vanished in bursts of pink energy. Kagome gasped for breath and stood up as the pounding on the door outside increased.

 

“What the hell did they want me here for anyway?” she hissed, wincing as a cut on her arm sent pain up the limb's length.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“You're being air-lifted to a dock at the seaport. A shipping vessel is arriving from overseas this afternoon. Your assignment is to ensure the designated cargo reaches the compound unharmed.”

 

“Great, bodyguard duty,” Kagome grunted, stretching on the mat in her room. “What's in the cargo?”

 

“I can't tell you that,” Kikyo replied.

 

“Fine, keep your secrets.”

 

“No, I mean I can't tell you that because I don't know,” Kikyo explained. Kagome gave her an odd look as she came up in a sit-up.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. I do not know what the cargo is, all I know is what the Elders have told me.”

 

“Wow,” Kagome said, standing. “So when do I leave?”

 

“Now. Get dressed.”

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

“Can't even tell me why I'm here,” Kagome growled, looking over her shoulder. Behind her was a small crate wrapped in chains and warded with several ofuda. That, according to the captain who had met her at the docks, was the mysterious cargo she was meant to guard.

 

The ship's ramp had extended and touched the pier when the youkai attacked. How they apparently knew what was being transported, Kagome didn't know, but she hadn't paused to ask them. The docks security was laughable, even with the three miko archers aboard the ship. The collective foursome had only held the ramp for a few moments before Kagome was forced to fall back to the cargo hold.

 

The pounding increased again, and finally, a long, thing slice appeared on the metal. So they did have brains after all. Kagome drew the Naginata behind her, and with a cry, swung it forward. A crescent-shaped beam of pink energy arced through the air as a youkai poked its head through the slash on the door. It squealed as the beam slammed into it, purifying it in an instant.

 

“Come on, I can do this all day!” Kagome roared, drawing the Naginata back for another blast. She was grandstanding, she knew, her strength was already waning and using her miko powers directly instead of relying on the latent powers of the Naginata wasn't going to help. Suddenly, the pounding stopped, and Kagome stepped back, unsure. Then, there was a flash through the small window of vision granted by the slash in the door, before the entire door exploded.

 

Kagome cried out and raised an arm as shards of metal rained down around the room. Coughing at the smoke, she waved the two-bladed sword in the air to clear her field of vision.

 

“Stopped by one miko. You pathetic rabble.”

 

Kagome lifted her head as a woman stepped through the large hole blasted in the door. A long black cloak mixed with black hair, not too much longer than Kagome's own, although it wasn't as thick. Pointed ears, claws and red eyes betrayed the woman as youkai, but for some reason Kagome couldn't sense any sort of aura from her. A long, thin metal shaft was clutched in her hand, ending in a three-pointed halberd head.

 

“Who are you?” she demanded, stepping back and raising the Naginata. The woman looked around the cargo hold with disinterest.

 

“My name is Abi. You?” she replied, bored.

 

“Kagome, remember it.”

 

“Hm, I'll try,” Abi said, turning her gaze to the miko. Her red eyes flashed as they rested on the chained and warded box behind Kagome. “Yes!” she cried, stepping forward. Kagome raised the Naginata and swung it, sending a wave of energy at the ground. Abi stopped her advance as the holy power dispersed at her feet and reached for the collar of her black cloak.

 

“Ha ha ha…foolish miko,” Abi sneered, casting off her coat. Kagome studied the odd uniform. Antiquated bone and iron covered Abi's shoulders with a suit of tinted red leather over her chest and stomach. A knee-length pleated black skirt covered her legs. Kagome's eyes widened. Pinned on Abi's chest was a small red, gold and silver medal. It looked familiar somehow. “Do you honestly think your powers will do any good against a member of the Order?” Abi asked.

 

“The what?” Kagome asked, confused. She had seen that medal before. But from where?

 

“You have the audacity to dispatch Muso, and you don't even know us? How sad. Then, do you know what lies in that box?” Abi asked, frowning. Was this the great guardian sent to protect one of the three?

 

“No, but it doesn't matter, you're not getting it,” Kagome replied. Muso, that was it! Abi's medal was similar to the one the man Muso had worn the night she had fought alongside Inuyasha. But…Abi's was different. It looked…more elaborate, somehow. Abi laughed again.

 

“How sad, the miko send someone to guard the treasure and they don't even tell her what it is she is to die for?” she chuckled, shaking her head. “I feel genuinely sorry for you…Kagome, was it? Ah well, no matter. You may be naïve, but you have courage, to stand against the Order. I shall reward this, by allowing you a glimpse of the glorious artifact in that box, before you die.”

 

Abi cried and leapt forward, swinging her halberd over her head. Kagome jumped back and swung the Naginata of Kenkon. The halberd head and one of the Naginata's twin blades clashes in a flash of sparks, and Abi swung, forcing the weapons apart. Kagome spun and brought the Naginata down again. Abi caught the blow on the shaft of her halberd and knocked the two-bladed sword away with a flick of her wrist.

 

“She's toying with me?” Kagome thought angrily, the Naginata whistling through the air. Abi caught every strike with ease and deflecting it with small movements of her hand, neither countering Kagome's strikes nor being pushed back by them. The Naginata sliced in from the right, Abi's halberd caught the strike, pitching it upwards and swinging the shaft of the weapon at the ground. Kagome cried out as the shaft slammed into her leg, knocking her off-balance. She fell forward, and Abi spun, slamming her hell into Kagome's face. Kagome flew backwards, slamming against the ground heavily, blood leaking from her mouth.

 

“Come now, miko,” Abi called, flicking out her halberd behind her. Kagome turned over and spat blood on the floor, grabbing the handle of her sword and using the Naginata to push herself up. “I'm just starting to be entertained,” Abi continuing, smiling. “Don't disappoint me now.” Kagome turned to her and licked red-stained lips before charging.

 

Naginata and halberd clanged and clashed off each other, sending showers of sparks into the air. Kagome raised the Naginata overhead and brought it down, waves of pink energy rippling up and down the blades. Abi raised her halberd and caught the strike, the pulses of miko energy heating the air. Kagome smirked and reached down to press the hidden catch on the Naginata's handle. The second blade detached, and Kagome swung it out. Abi gasped and jumped back, narrowly avoiding a thrust at her stomach. Kagome smiled and twirled the two kodachi about her fingertips for a moment before snapping their handles back together.

 

“Not bad,” Abi admitted. “Alright, enough playing around.” This time, Abi advanced, and Kagome raised the Naginata to block the halberd aimed at her face. Abi lifted a leg and spun, knocking away the Naginata. Kagome gasped as Abi's foot hooked behind her ankle and her hand wrapped around her neck. Abi's other hand, clutching her halberd, kept the Naginata in Kagome's hand tucked under the blade.

 

“You fought well,” Abi offered, smiling. Then, with a cry, Abi spun, flinging Kagome through the air. Kagome hit the wall with a groan and slumped down. The Naginata clanged beside her. The miko coughed, more blood dripping from her mouth, and she raised her eyes to stare at Abi. The woman let out a snort and turned away from her. Abi walked up to the box, the wards and chains crackling as she neared.

 

“Pathetic miko wretches,” Abi sneered. “Did they think these wards would stop us?” With a small cry, Abi brought up her halberd and slammed it down on the box. The chains broke apart under the force, and with a pulse of energy, the ofuda on the box burst into flame and turned to ash. Grinning, Abi lifted her free hand and lifted the lid of the box.

 

The youkai at the door of the cargo hold held their breath as Abi reached into the box. Her vision blurring, Kagome forced herself to focus on the item in Abi's hand. It was a necklace. Abi lifted it gingerly, staring at it in fascination. The necklace had a series of blue beads, every five beads separated by a white bead shaped like a curved, crescent-like teardrop. A larger bead of the same shape, but bright green and carved from jade, hung from the bottom of the necklace.

 

“Lady Abi…” one of the youkai breathed. “Is it genuine?”

 

“It is,” Abi whispered, turning the necklace over in her fingers. “Yasakani no Magatama…” Abi tucked the necklace into her clothing. “One down. Let's go, we must get the magatama to safety.” The youkai nodded as Abi turned on her heel and marched towards the door. Kagome grimaced and grabbed the Naginata, climbing to her feet.

 

“N…” she gasped. Abi stopped and looked over her shoulder at the miko. “N…no!” Kagome shouted, running. Abi growled and turned, catching Kagome's weakened strike on her halberd.

 

“Insolent miko!” she roared. Kagome's eyes went wide as Abi's glowed red, her raven hair fluttering behind her. “Know your place and lick my feet!” Abi shrieked, bringing back her halberd and slashing. Kagome cried out as the blade carved a crimson crescent down her chest, and stumbled back, dropping her weapon. Abi twirled her halberd, orange and red light gathering on its blade.

 

With a roar, Abi swung the halberd and unleashed a wave of flame from the head.
Kagome screamed as a cocoon of fire wrapped around her, not touching her but still searing her with the heat. Lips curling up in a sadistic grin, Abi swung the halberd back, and the flames receded. Her clothing smoking, Kagome fell to her knees, eyes blank. Her hands didn't even come out to stop her fall as her head hit the steel floor of the ship. Abi knelt down, sliding a claw forward to tilt Kagome's head up.

 

“I know you can hear me, little miko,” she whispered. “You won't die, had I wanted you dead you would be. But you amused me, for a time. And I look forward to perhaps playing with you again, if you survive to see me again.” Letting Kagome's hehad drop back down, Abi rose up and turned, leading her youkai minions from the cargo hold, tilting down her halberd and flipping her coat up from the floor and over her shoulder on the way.

 

Behind her, Kagome slowly blinked, her eyes gaining life again

 

“Inu…yasha…” she murmured, moving her hand out. Fingers reached out across the cargo hold as footsteps pounded around her, reaching for something only she could see.

 

“Holy shit, what happened to her?”

 

“Get her on the stretcher and down to the doctor now!”

 

“Severe burns, lacerations to the stomach, no telling if she has any internal injuries. Bleeding from the mouth though, it's likely…”

 

Kagome vaguely registered something sliding under her - the stretcher - before she blacked out.