InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Malice ❯ Beginning: Battle Lines ( Chapter 37 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 37: Beginning: Battle Lines

"He's moving!"

Kagome's voice rang out strongly in the cavern, and all movement halted at her words.

It had been three days, and they were well past the cavern where they'd fought the snake youkai, and gathered the water. They had rested as little as possible, and had made good time - if they were lucky, they would make it back to their goal with enough time to decide if their tentative battle plans would work.

Their goal just happened to be the first cavern in the system, the most open one in the entire group of caves.

Coincidentally, it also happened to be lit very well by the sunlight that filtered in from the entrance.

Now all they had to do was get set up, and hopefully, things would work out in their favor timing-wise.

They hoped that the Obake could be taunted and led into this last cavern while it was still dark enough outside to keep him from realizing exactly where he was. That, admittedly, was going to be difficult - he'd been in these caves for centuries, so he probably knew them like the back of his hand.

However, the hope was that they could get him flustered and enraged enough with running attacks and taunts that when they finally fell back to that last cavern, he'd not be paying as close of attention as he should be.

That's where that little notebook on Naraku was going to come in handy.

Most of the creatures that the Obake had swallowed would probably have some weakness mentioned within that book, and with Naraku having been the last one taken in by the creature, his characteristics were probably at the forefront of the Obake's mind.

They had decided that even if the Obake resisted being led into the cavern, they still would have the upper hand - in order for the creature to get them, he'd have no choice but to enter the cavern at some point - most likely exactly when they wanted him to - at night. One way or another, they'd get him where they wanted him.

Once they'd managed to get him into the cavern, Miroku would circle behind as he was drawn into the central portion of the cave, and would sutra the entrance into the rest of the system shut - trapping the Obake in one place.

He would be caught in the light, and up against his greatest fear... Kagome - and on top of that, facing Inuyasha and the Tessaiga, and Sesshoumaru, and Bakusaiga. In any conflict, a deadly combination, the two brothers were, and even greater when they fought together as one.

Inuyasha, as could be expected, wasn't happy about Kagome being near any part of this battle. It had been hard enough to accept the fact that she was going to be near Naraku again - he'd had to fight himself over that, and only the fact that she deserved vengeance against the bastard had swayed him into letting her be a part of that fight.

But this... for some reason, this fight with the Obake just seemed so much worse to him.

So, when he heard her words, his face scrunched up in a scowl, and he grabbed Kagome and flung her onto his back. "Oi! Let's pick up the pace, and get moving. I don't want to take any chance that that bastard catches us out of position. If you can't keep up, then I'll leave ya behind." With that, he leapt ahead, taking off and disappearing into the distance rapidly.

Kikyou and the others were surprised that he'd left his pack behind - but Koga and Sesshoumaru were not. The wolf prince, still feeling slightly foolish after his mess up the last time, answered their looks.

"He still cares about you guys, but his mate is his priority now - especially since we know that the enemy will be after her specifically. It'll always be this way, although, with his instincts already in an uproar, it's worse right now. In fact, if he doesn't go youkai in this battle at some point, I'll be surprised."

Miroku looked at Sango, then Kikyou, and frowned as they all began moving again, this time at a faster pace. "That's not a good thing, Koga. When he loses control of his blood, he kills anything that gets in his way - friend or foe, he makes no distinction."

Koga just laughed. "Has he ever gone after Kagome?"

Sango flashed a glance his way, a little surprised as she thought about his question. "No," she said slowly, "he hasn't. Not once. Well, except by accident, when Kaguya put him under that spell. And even then, it was just because he grabbed her arms with his elongated claws. Then she kissed him, and it broke the spell."

"And he never will go after Kagome, no matter what. She's his mate, his other half, and demon blood, or human heart, both sides recognize her. As for the rest of us, he won't attack any of us, either." He blushed a bit. "Well, unless I get stupid and try to come between them or something. He sees me, and probably every other unmated male, as rivals..."

"He always has been very, very protective of Kagome - and very jealous, as well," Miroku said musingly.

"That will not change now that they are mates," Sesshoumaru said. "He will only be more protective, more possessive... and more openly affectionate to her. Inu are naturally affectionate to those that are theirs."

Sango cast a sidelong glance at the miko pacing herself besides them, wondering how this talk was affecting her. The elder miko sported a distant, sad sort of look, and the taijiya couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her. After all, if things had been different...

She couldn't help but chuckle at herself, then - that had to be the first time she'd ever really felt badly for the older miko, and everything that she'd been through. Not that she'd thought that the woman deserved any of it, it was just that it was kinda hard to feel badly for someone that was causing someone you cared about a lot of pain.

But now that she was no longer standing between Kagome and Inuyasha, she found it in herself to actually think about the other woman's life - and how sad and short it had really been.

With a sigh, she shook those thoughts off, and concentrated on simply moving - they had only so much time left, and much to do before engaging this enemy in battle.

Obake was angry.

Very angry.

His prey, the ones he'd waited so patiently for, had turned around and were leaving! Leaving him behind as though he weren't worth their time.

At first, when they'd turned around, he'd held his position, thinking that maybe they were after water, or something. But then, they'd kept going - past the cavern with water, straight for the exit to the caves.

He couldn't have that.

So, after sitting for a while in his web, he finally decided to go after them - stop them from leaving. But they were quite a ways ahead...

Good thing that he could go days without rest, and move faster then just about any living thing. He'd need to utilize every bit of his speed and stamina to catch them, too.

He couldn't understand what they were thinking to accomplish by backtracking. He was almost positive, from what he knew of this group through Naraku's memories, that they would not leave him behind here and just leave - they would attempt to defeat him.

Not that they could.

Obake was extremely ancient - and he remembered.

He remembered his first form, weak and timid as it was, and he remembered the seeming eons that he had slowly crept around in the dark, taking whatever creature he could overcome. In that way, he had, inch by inch, gained strength and power - until he had finally reached a form that all feared.

And then he had become a force.

All cowered before him in fear - his very name became synonymous with despair and death. With that, however, had come notoriety - and the desire of his prey to strike back - to defeat him.

So they had sent their best - humans and youkai both had allied together to defeat him, one of the only times they ever had, and even then, they had only been able to seal him here, in these caves.

For centuries, now, he'd been locked away here, his only prey the snake youkai that had lived here - and they had, over such a length of time, become quite good at avoiding him, he had to admit.

When he'd scented new prey, and got a hint of the vile nature of the being that had entered his prison, he'd rejoiced... and once more, had gone hunting.

Then, he'd realized that there was a whole group of humans and demons chasing the hanyou he'd just absorbed - and his filthy soul had danced with glee. Such worthy prey...

Until he'd come to the priestess.

He hadn't felt fear in centuries, until the moment that his aura had butted up against hers...

She could be his destruction - or the tastiest prey he'd ever come up against.
From his memories stolen from the hanyou, he could pull the scent of the woman, the feel of her flesh, and the taste of her blood - as well as how it had felt to fuck her. If he could break her, her pure spirit of love could be tainted... and then he could have her.

Once the others had all been assimilated into his flesh, he would take her...

Over and over and over.

Her screams would be most worth the danger he was going to face in taking this group on.

It was the only thing he could think of for their flight - the woman was frightened, and they were trying to escape. Because otherwise, he knew that they would have attacked him.

If she was already that frightened, all the better.

And he laughed to himself as he moved swiftly after them - soon, she would more than be frightened...

She would be beneath him, and her soul would writhe in despair and darkness forever, as her body would writhe in pain as he forced himself into her.

He could already taste her fear... and the power of her blood on his tongue.

Inuyasha was having a very hard time controlling his fear.

With very little encouragement, he'd go completely off the deep end.

It wasn't fear for himself, either - it was fear of Kagome being hurt again that was causing his youkai to be so near the surface. For some reason, he felt as though she, specifically, was in more danger than she'd ever been - even from Naraku, and he was ready to go on a rampage because of it.

And as they reached their destination, finally, he was quickly going feral, not allowing even members of their pack near her - not even Sango.

It was this twitchy atmosphere that Sesshoumaru and the rest of the group was enduring that had everyone going batty, and finally, Kagome had to take her mate and drag him off for some 'quality alone time' to see if she could calm him down.

Grabbing a flashlight, several candles, a blanket, and their portion of dinner and water, she rolled everything together in a ball and plopped it into his arms. Taking the flashlight, she flicked it on and grabbed her mate's arm.

"Let's go, Inuyasha." She tugged on his sleeve, and he grunted and tossed the roll over his shoulder, following her as she took the lead.

"Feh. Where the hell are we goin', wench?" he growled bad-temperedly, and Kagome sighed.

"Does it matter? We're going somewhere to find some privacy - or does that idea bother you? You don't want to be alone with me?"

"Keh! You know better than that stupid shit, Kagome!" he snapped, his ears laying flat against his head. "I just don't think goin' off alone in these damn caves is very smart."
Kagome rolled her eyes, but kept walking. "Baka. There's nothing dangerous around here - at least not yet. Obake is still a long ways away - it'll be at least another two days before he's here. He's traveling fast... but nobody's that fast."

Inuyasha grunted in reluctant agreement. "Well, still..."

Kagome had found what she was looking for. A small niche tucked into the cave wall, a good fifteen minute walk from the rest of the group - it was as much privacy as they were going to get. With a final tug to his arm, she let go of it and stepped into the little grotto.

Turning to the still irritated hanyou, she reached up and grabbed the blanket, unwrapping it carefully, and gathering the candles and the lighter, she set them out around the blanket and lit them, providing enough light so that she could shut off the flashlight.

Once everything was settled to her satisfaction, she sat down, and patting the blanket, she said, "Come on, Inuyasha, sit down and we can eat our dinner..."

He snorted, but plopped down where she indicated and waited for her to hand him his portion. It was quiet for a while as they ate - but it was a comfortable silence, as even Inuyasha began to calm a bit despite himself.

After Kagome finished, she sighed, and laid back. Setting her head on folded arms, she glanced over at her mate, and smiled a little.

"So... mind telling me what's wrong?"

He flashed her a look, then laid back as well, sighing deeply. "What's not wrong? We're stuck in a damn set of caves with an enemy that's even more dangerous than Naraku was! Tell me what's right about that?"

Kagome chuckled. "Okay... besides all that..."

"What besides?! There isn't any 'besides'." He glared up into the darkness, eyes narrow. "Why can't we just leave these caves and re-seal them? I mean, between you, Kikyou and Miroku, there's more than enough reiki to do it - and then I wouldn't have to worry about you."

Ah... so the truth comes out. It's not just general worry, it's about me.

Kagome inhaled deeply as she thought about it. Finally she said, "I don't think it's that easy, Inuyasha. I have the feeling that we have to deal with him - remember, in my time, the Obake no longer exists. Something happens to him between now and then - and what other time will there be more concentrated power all together than right now - with the group we're with?"

Inuyasha glared even harder, clenching his fists. "Like I care about who destroys that bastard - I'm only concerned with you! I don't want you anywhere near that thing."

Kagome didn't miss his eyes flash red, and was belatedly aware that it wasn't only his human side speaking - his beast was involved - and didn't want it's mate to have any part of this battle. She understood, she really did - after all, she didn't want him here for this, but... it was just too bad.

They both had a part to play.

"Inuyasha, you were perfectly okay with coming in here after Naraku, weren't you?"

He shot her a disgusted look. "Not really okay with it - but it had to be done... I wasn't about to let that fucker get away. What about it? Naraku doesn't exist anymore."

"Are you sure about that? Just because Obake swallowed him doesn't mean he's truly gone. As far as I'm concerned, as long as any part of that bastard is around, it's not over - and if that means destroying Obake to finish this, then so be it."

Inuyasha stared over at her, wide-eyed, as he considered her words, then his face screwed up in disgust. "Fine," he huffed, acknowledging her words. "I see what you're talking about - but I really hate it!"

Kagome nodded solemnly. "I hate it too, Inuyasha," she said slowly. "All of this... it's been so hard. So much has happened in just a few months - two months ago I was broken... I," she hesitated, glancing at him again, "well, I wasn't sure I'd ever heal. But you... you brought me back, and healed so much of the damage. But... if I'm ever going to heal fully, I have to face the last remnants of Naraku - I have to fight him... to prove to myself that I'm no victim."

Turning his head to look at her, he couldn't argue with her words, and he knew it. Even his youkai blood had quieted, understanding what she was saying on a very fundamental level. He still hated it - but he accepted it.

"I get it, Kagome," he said quietly. "I still don't like it... but I understand. But you have to promise to stay with me. Don't let him corner you - no matter how badly you want to destroy him, okay? You have to understand that if anything happens to you, it happens to me, too."

An unsettled look in her eyes, Kagome nodded slowly, honestly not really having thought about it that far yet. But...

"That goes for you, too, then, Inuyasha - what happens to you, happens to me."

Their eyes met, and they both acknowledged that bond between them.

They were mates - and they both had to be careful, one for the other.

Because neither of them could make it alone.

The rest of the group was very happy when the two returned and Inuyasha was much more settled than he had been when they'd left.

He was still unhappy about things the way they were, but everyone understood that - the youkai of the group even more so - none of them would have been comfortable with having a mate in this situation, so not much was said to the hanyou.

Once the two returned, the discussions turned to a fine-tuning of battle tactics, and they soon had the two caverns, the one they were in, which was the first cavern, and the second one, scouted.

It gave them quite a bit of room to maneuver, and they decided to set up their first line of battle in the second cavern, that way, they could, during battle, fall back, drawing the Obake slowly after them.

They picked out all their fallback points, that way, everyone would know ahead of time where they would need to turn and re-form...

And then, they began to speak of what part each of them would play in the battle.

That was a little more difficult, as they weren't talking about a pitched battle, but a running one.

In the end, it was decided that when they were ready to fall back to their next position, Kikyou and Kagome would go back first, finding their posts and then covering the retreat of the others with their bows.

They had to be careful, though - they only had so many arrows.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru would be center stage with Tessaiga and Bakusaiga, with Miroku and Sango to one side, and Kouga and his buddies to the other. Kikyou and Kagome would be a little behind the rest of the group, shooting arrows only if the Obake attempted to get too close.

Now... all they had to do is decide what to do once they actually reached the main cavern - and how to time everything right, so that they could get there when they wanted - and not to early, or too late.

And they only had a day and a half to figure it out, because the Obake was gaining ground - rapidly.

A/N: And the battle is coming...

Amber