InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Mika- the Inu Ookami Hanyou ❯ Fight of the Demons ( Chapter 12 )

The Fight of the Demons

 

Mika secured the haori about her lithe frame and whistled for her missing horse. Off in the distance you could hear an answering whistle, as well as the thundering of hooves. Ryuu skidded to a stop in front of the transformed girl. Despite her changed appearance, he recognized her as his rider through her scent. He pushed her gently with his muzzle as she embraced the horse.

 

Stunned, Inuyasha gawked at the girl as he realized who the horse reminded him of, Entei. His blood boiled at the thought of the demonic horse he'd killed in a cave a while back. “Get away from him, Mika. He's the son of a killer, “Inuyasha commanded as he withdrew Tetsusaiga, which transformed into its demonic form.

 

Mika took her face from the colt's great chest to look at her uncle. “What are you talking about, Inuyasha? This horse saved my life and helped me escape that accursed island. I'll not let you kill him!” She yelled, refusing to move from the horse.

 

“Mika, I know what I'm talking about! That horse is descended from an evil, vile horse that killed thousands of people with his rider. He needs to be destroyed!”

 

Picking up on his rider's distress, Ryuu swung his head toward Inuyasha to glare at the cause of the distress. As he sized up the half demon, Ryuu could sense the love emanating from Inuyasha and his determination to protect the girl. A sad look crossed Ryuu's face as he felt the conflict within his rider and the conflict within her heart. He could tell that she was torn between the love and concern of the half demon, as well as her love of the horse whom she'd befriended. Ryuu nuzzled the girl into his chest as the half demon stood; gap jawed at the defiant girl.

 

Mika composed her thoughts as she finally looked her uncle in the eye. “I will not let you kill this horse based on the deeds of his father. Leave him alone, Inuyasha, for he is our ally. Ryuu has a deep hatred of Naraku and Hakudoushi. Besides you, yourself implied that his father chose his own rider. Apparently, he's decided that I'm to be his, seeing as how I showed him compassion.”

 

Returning the Tetsusaiga to its sheath, Inuyasha inquired, “Is that so? How, pray tell, did you befriend a demonic horse then?” He crossed his arms across his chest, waiting to hear the tale.

 

Mika quickly filled him in on the screams of pain she'd heard the first night on the island, as well as her second night in the horse stall as she tried to gain his trust. She concluded with his attack of Hakudoushi, kneeling to allow her on his back and the fight with Kagura above the water. “As you can see, he tried to save me. Apparently after I fell into the lake, he watched over me until you arrived and pulled me out of the lake. That's why he followed you to the shelter, to continue to protect me,” Mika concluded. She had neglected to tell him of her thoughts of her father, or calling out to him as she fell.

 

“Well, I'm not happy about this,” he said as he approached his niece and the horse. “But I'll give him a chance if it means that much to you.” As Inuyasha placed a protective hand on Mika's shoulder, Ryuu glared at him and swung his head to knock Inuyasha back form his rider, his teeth bared and ears laid back.

 

Mika smiled softly as she soothed the protective horse. “Now, now Ryuu, he's on our side. Inuyasha won't hurt you. Now behave.” With an eye on Inuyasha, Ryuu stomped a back hoof as if to say, “Hurt my rider and I'll mess you up.”

 

Inuyasha glanced at the colt as he replied, “I see that he has taken a liking to you.” He moved toward the horse as he addressed Ryuu directly, “Keep her safe, you nag. Turn on her or anyone else in our company and I won't hesitate to do to you what I did to your sire.” He rattled the Tetsusaiga in its sheath for emphasis.

 

Understanding the meaning of the half demon, Ryuu gently nuzzled Inuyasha, nipping lightly at the sleeve of his shirt. Mika moved toward her uncle, catching him in an embrace of gratitude. “Thank you.”

 

“Don't mention it. Now, let's get back to the others. I'd have thought that mangy wolf would have showed up by now. I guess that we're going to have to find the others, but we're upwind and I can't catch their scent.”

 

Noticing that Ryuu still wore the hackamore, Mika commented, “We'd cover more ground if we were airborne. Ryuu could easily carry us both.”

 

Before Inuyasha was able to reply a dozen or so demons surrounded the trio. The leader looked them over as a sly smile crossed his face. “It seems the Wind Sorceress was right. This looks like easy pickings.”

 

Drawing the Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha retorted, “Think again, stupid. I'm anything by easy!” He turned an eye toward Mika as he leveled the transformed Tetsusaiga, toward the demons, “Stay with Ryuu. Get out of here and find the others!”

 

The lead demon retorted, “That horse is coming with us. He'll make a great addition as my steed.” He ordered the others to attack. Three approached Ryuu as two went after Mika and the rest surrounded Inuyasha.

 

Ryuu placed his massive body between the advancing demons and Mika. He snorted and pawed the ground, daring them to attack. Mika adjusted Inuyasha's haori to where she could move a little more freely as the other demons circled the horse. She flexed her claws and felt the cold energy mixed with sulfuric acid radiate down her arms. The final group of demons encircled Inuyasha completely cutting him of from his niece and the horse. All of a sudden, all twelve demons attacked the trio. Ryuu opened his mouth to release a demonic wave of blue energy, toasting the three advancing demons to mere ashes. Mika's claws dripped sulfuric acid as her two attackers approached. Once charged head on as the other rushed her from her blind side.

 

“Ryuu,” was all she said as she attacked the first demon head on. Ryuu swung out his left rear hoof to catch the second demon in the chest, throwing him several feet into a nearby tree. The airborne demon crashed heavily into the tree, getting impaled on several branches. Mika slashed at her attacker's face, raking her acid claws across his cheek. The demon reeled back, howling in pain with his hands held to his face.

 

“Wench!” he screamed. “I'll kill you!” As he dropped his hands, Mika saw the deep claw marks running from his forehead to chin on the left side of his face. The sulfuric acid spread quickly, dissolving most of his face to the bone. He charged Mika with a wild scream. Anticipating his move, Mika crouched, claws at the ready. The blood crazed demon bared down on her without any thoughts to his actions. As he hovered near Mika, she made her move. The claws on her hands extended slightly as she ripped the demon from groin to throat. “Ice Reaper!” rung on the wind as blue energy revealed the claw marks on the demons chest. Within seconds the demon disintegrated into a pile of dust and bones as his screams died on the breeze.

 

Mika looked at the remaining demons as they continued to fight Inuyasha. He was bleeding heavily from wounds to his shoulders, thighs and chest, coloring his once white shirt into a dripping dark red mess. Of the seven demons that attacked him, two demons and the leader remained. Inuyasha held the Tetsusaiga toward the trio, as he thought, “How am I going to do this? My vision is beginning to get blurry. I have to get out of this!” Sensing their prey was beginning to weaken, the three demons rushed him again. Without a second thought, Inuyasha swept the Tetsusaiga toward the on rushing demons. “Wind Scar!” he yelled as five yellow claw marks raced toward them. Unable to avoid the attack, two of the demons screamed in horror as the third jumped out of the way.

 

Ryuu saw the attack race toward Mika, who Inuyasha had failed to see, was in the direct line of fire. “Mika…Run!” Inuyasha screamed as he collapsed from exhaustion to one knee. “I can't save her from my own attack,” he thought as he mentally cursed himself. He saw in amazement as the giant horse moved as lightning to protect Mika and remove her from harms way. Ryuu grabbed the neck of the haori she wore and dragged her to safety. A wave of gratitude and relief crossed his face as he saw his niece moved to safety. However, the relief was short lived as the last demon grabbed his injured shoulder roughly, lifting Inuyasha into the air.

 

“You should watch where you swing that sword, fool. You nearly killed me!” he yelled as he knocked the Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha's hands.

 

Despite the gravity of the situation, Inuyasha cracked a smile as he replied, “If I'd wanted you dead, you would be by now!” He flexed his claws and swung at the demon as “Iron Reaver Soul Stealer” passed his lips, severing the demon's arm that held him at the shoulder.

 

Looking at his bloody arm lying at his feet, the demon saw red. “You bastard,” he snarled. Focusing his entire attention on the injured half demon, he failed to see Mika retrieved the Tetsusaiga. She lifted the rusty sword, noticing that it had not transformed for her as it had for Inuyasha.

 

“Well, at least it's a weapon,” she thought. She moved toward the imposing demon. Unlike the last demon she killed, the leader was huge. Built like a bear crossed with a Brahma bull on two legs, his imposing hulk towered over her. Mika looked at the demon as he continued to pummel Inuyasha. “Hey, Ugly!” she yelled.

 

With his fist mere inches from Inuyasha's face; the demon stopped and looked at Mika. “Huh? Are you talking to me?”

 

“Yeah, that's right! I'm talking to you, Ugly! Get away from my Uncle!” she yelled brandishing the rusty Tetsusaiga.

 

As an amused look crossed his face, the demon got up from the ground, advancing toward Mika. “You and what army?” he replied as he advanced toward the girl.

 

Inuyasha carefully turned his battered body toward Mika and saw her brandish the Tetsusaiga in its rusty form. “No! She thinks it's a real katana!” he thought. He struggled to regain his footing as he yelled with what strength he had left, “Mika, Run! You don't know what you're doing!”

 

Looking past the advancing demon, Mika replied, “Just shut up and let me protect you!” In an instant, the Tetsusaiga transformed from the rusty katana into its demonic form, shocking Inuyasha, the demon and Mika at its sudden actions. With a sly smile playing across her lips, Mika moved the transformed Tetsusaiga to get a feel for the blade.

 

Inuyasha moved to a kneeling position, slowly regaining his strength. As he looked at his niece with the fully transformed Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha remembered a similar conversation he'd had with Kagome during the initial fight with Sesshomaru over the Tetsusaiga. Once he was at least upright, Inuyasha took a few tentative steps toward Mika before falling to his knees again. “Damn it! I can't go to her aid,” he thought as he punched his fist into the ground, helpless to just watch.

 

Mika saw how her uncle had tried to come to her aid, but felt even more determined to protect him. She eyed the advancing demon as he circled her, well out of reach of the Tetsusaiga's blade. “Are you afraid of little old me?” She asked, taunting the demon to attack, knowing that her inner strength came from her swordsmanship.

 

As the bull demon took in the new development of the fully transformed Tetsusaiga, he laughed. “So you have a bigger sword. Big deal! I'll still rip you apart!” He charged as Mika moved into a defensive position. Mika kept her eyes on the advancing demon as she notices a strange, yet vaguely familiar scent assailing her nose. Quickly she followed the smell to the blade in her hands and recognized the scent as that of the wind. Looking closer at the blade, Mika was able to discern the whirling demonic aura, which reminded her of the ever blowing wind of her high mountain desert home. Once she realized that this demonic aura was the cause of the destruction of the two earlier demons a wicked smile crossed her face.

 

The charging demon screeched to a halt a few feet from Mika once he saw the smile cross her face. “What could this mean? Has she tapped into the sword's powers or is it just clever rues?” he thought as the look of hesitation entered his actions.

 

“What? Are you scared of me still? I'm fresh meat for the slaughter and yet you hesitate. Do I scare you with this blade?” Mika jabbed and taunted the demon, “Come at me! I've not got all day!”

 

Inuyasha regained his footing, leaned heavily against Ryuu, who had moved to his side, as he watched the battle unfold before him. “She'll get herself killed is she's not careful,” he thought as he caught the scent of the wind scar. “Huh? It can't be! She's tapped into the Tetsusaiga's demonic powers and a hell of a lot faster than I first did.” Anticipating the pending destruction of the demon, Inuyasha slowly moved toward the relative safety of the trees, all the while keeping a cautious eye on Mika.

 

As Inuyasha slowly left the battle field, Mika breathed a sigh of relief. “I'd best get this over with so that I can get him patched up. I can smell his blood from here and it's almost overwhelming me, it's so intoxicating,” Mika thought as she turned back to the last demon. “Okay, Ugly! I've had enough of your stalling tactics. Either you attack me now, or I'm taking the fight to you. Your choice, but you only have until I count to five.”

 

The look of confusion and hesitations still clouded his mind as he tried to decide if he really wanted this or not.

 

“One…”

 

“Is this piece of horse flesh worth my life?” he thought.

 

“Two…”

 

“Is gaining the favor of Naraku really worth this?” he continued to ponder.

 

“Three… Vier…”

 

“What will my life be worth after I defeat this wench? Who's to say that mutt and mangy wolf won't track me down and kill me!” he pondered furiously trying to find an answer.

 

“Five… Wind Scar!”

 

Shocked out of his thoughts the demon screamed “You missed `four' you Wench! No fair!”

 

As the claws of the `Wind Scar' streaked toward the demon, a sly smile crossed her lips as she replied, “Alls fair in love and war. You just didn't hear me say it in a language you understand!”

 

The demon disintegrated as the demonic claws of the `Wind Scar' sliced into his body. Screams of pain echoed through the field to die on the wind. Mika looked at Inuyasha as she caught sight of an observer in a tree not far from her wounded uncle. She sprinted toward Inuyasha as the observer leapt toward the half demon. “Move and die a horrible death!” Mika screamed as she screeched to a halt between the two men.

 

“Hey! Point that thing somewhere else, Mika! I'm not going to hurt him. Not yet anyways!” Koga growled as he glared daggers at the injured hanyou. Taking in the look of his niece he noticed her demonic transformation which, he realized, confirmed his sister's suspicions. He saw her markings and shook his head. “You were right Akane. She does take after her father,” he thought then his gaze traveled down her body as a scowl crossed his face. “Why the hell are you wearing that mongrel's haori? Where are your clothes?!” Koga demanded as he saw Inuyasha's Robe of the Fire Rat cover her lithe frame.

 

Mika glanced at her body, blushed a little as Inuyasha moved to place a hand on her shoulder. “Her clothes were completely shredded after being attacked by Kagura. I had to use what I could to stop her bleeding. Not like I have to explain anything to you, Mangy Wolf!”

 

Within seconds the two males stood nose to nose, hackles raised, knuckles cracked and tempers flared. “I saw you almost kill her with your sword Mutt-Face! What were you thinking?!”

 

“At least I was able to get to her before she drowned, Mangy-Wolf! Where were you? For all your talk of amazing speed it sure took you long enough to find us!”

 

Koga stood back a second as he replied, “I was stuck baby sitting your brother and giving false trails for him to follow. Besides, I figured that she'd be safe with you, until I caught your scent of blood, then I beat feet here as fast as I could.”

 

“You damn fool! You led him right to her!” Inuyasha screamed, “What were you thinking?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Sesshomaru stepped into the clearing to the amazement of the trio. He'd watched the whole scene from a nearby tree, from her demonic transformation to the fight and her wielding of the Tetsusaiga.

 

“It did not reject her. Is it because of her human blood and her desire to protect Inuyasha that she was able to wield the blade?” he thought. Sesshomaru had eluded the wolf once he'd been able to catch her blood scent on the wind, from the night before. He'd witnessed Inuyasha pulling her from the water and silently followed them to the shelter.

 

Sesshomaru stood watch a fair distance thought out the night, contemplating his next move. He'd noticed the large demonic horse move to the entrance of the helter and stand guard as well. “What is this? He emanates a demonic aura, and yet it's not like that of Entei. How does he fit into this picture?”

 

Earlier that morning…

 

As morning came Sesshomaru was briefly startled by Mika's screams of pain. His eyes flashed open as her raging demonic aura awoke. As she raced away from the shelter in a blind panic, he'd silently followed her, matching her speed easily.

 

When Sesshomaru saw her transformation he felt a bit of her pain in his heart. “What is this that I feel? Am I feeling guilty for watching her suffer alone when I should be there to be comforting her?” He'd moved closer toward the quacking girl, smelling the salt of her tears and the anguish as it emanated from her body. Before he'd been able to move any closer Inuyasha arrived and encompassed her with his arm and body, comforting the tormented girl.

 

As the scene unfolded and he saw Mika's face his eyes widened in a bit of shock. “So this is my daughter! How could I not notice this? Why has she been kept from me?” With thoughts of betrayal coursing through his mind, Sesshomaru made his way toward the group, just as the dozen demons blocked his way.

 

Sesshomaru moved closer to the fight, noticing that they had not noticed him. As the fight ended, he noticed that Mika handled herself fairly decent. “With a little more training, she'd be a worthy opponent.” He thought. Once the attention of Mika and Inuyasha was on the wolf demon, Sesshomaru made his presence known.

 

As Inuyasha yelled at Koga that he'd led Sesshomaru to Mika, Mika's head snapped toward the far side of the clearing. She saw Sesshomaru enter, striding toward them. With the Tetsusaiga still in her hands, she began to shake with fear, recalling her dream from the night before.

 

Finally noticing the great dog demon lord, Koga and Inuyasha moved to intercept Sesshomaru, as they smelled the fear emanating from Mika. Inuyasha's strength returned at a faster clip as he gently retrieved the Tetsusaiga from Mika's trembling grasp. He moved with Koga into a defensive line in front of Mika with the Tetsusaiga held before him. “Get on Ryuu and get out of here!” Inuyasha said to her as Sesshomaru came closer.

 

“But…”

 

“Do what he said!” Koga interjected. “We'll distract him enough for you to escape. The others are north of here, near a volcanic plain. We'll follow as soon as we can.”

 

“But…What about you!”

 

With cocky smiles across their faces, they replied in unison, “We'll catch up. Now Go!”

 

Mika slide her hands into Ryuu's thick silken mane, entwining her fingers into the long strands. In a flash, she had used the momentum of a spring and leapt onto the colt's back. Taking the reins into one hand and leaving the other in the colt's mane she looked at the scene before her.

 

Seeing that Mika was safely on Ryuu's back, Inuyasha smacked the horse on the rump with the Tetsusaiga, causing the demonic horse to jump in surprise. “Get out' a here!” Inuyasha yelled as he turned his full attention back to Sesshomaru.

 

Without hesitation, Mika turned Ryuu toward the direction given and spurred him into a gallop. Taking a few tentative steps on the ground, Ryuu leapt into the air in a full gallop, racing toward the remainder of the group. Mika's mind raced to thoughts of what she felt for her father.

 

“He's an imposing figure, strikingly handsome but imposing as well. This encounter feels different from the last time I saw him though. Then again, a lot has changed since that encounter. What am I thinking…Maybe that's my problem? Everyone is telling me what to do, that they're not letting me make up my own mind. I'll give them credit at trying to keep me protected, but I need to find out for myself what he'd do,” she thought. With grim determination, Mika had made up her mind, “The next encounter, I'll meet with him and then deal with the consequences.”

 

As Mika made her escape, Koga and Inuyasha faced her father. “Go back to your lands, Sesshomaru. There's nothing for you here,” Inuyasha yelled.

 

“It appears that you're in on keeping her from me as well, little brother. How long have you known about my daughter?”

 

Indignantly Inuyasha replied, “I barely found out myself. If there's anyone with keeping secrets it's that mangy wolf!”

 

“Hey, Mutt! Whose side are you on?” Koga glared at Inuyasha.

 

Sesshomaru turned his attention to the wolf demon. “So, you're her brother. I should have pieced it together sooner. How is Akane?”

 

“You bastard!” Koga spit out between clenched jaws. “She died giving birth to my niece, no thanks to you. We were never able to get all the poison out of her system after you attacked her! How could you even stand yourself after what you did?”

 

“I'd say I'm sorry for your loss, but it doesn't even compare to what you hid from me. Why…Why did you keep…her…Mika…from me?”

 

Contemplating his answer, Koga noticed a hint of sadness emanating from the powerful demon, keeping any response he'd come up with unsaid. “Has he changed? Or is this still the dangerous monster that Akane feared would kill Mika?” he thought.

 

Growing impatient with the wolf, Sesshomaru glared at Koga as his hand moved toward Tokijin. “I demand an answer, Wolf!”

 

Koga cracked his knuckles as he replied, “Go to Hell!”

 

“You first!” In a single fluid motion, Sesshomaru unsheathed Tokijin and charged the duo. Despite his previous battle and barely healed wounds, Inuyasha blocked the attack. Koga moved to strike Sesshomaru who dodged the kick at the last second: he connected solidly with a blow to Koga's chest, sending the wolf flying into the air. Inuyasha swung at his brother who avoided the strike and countered with a strike of his own. The trio battled for what seemed to be a few hours, as to let Mika make her escape. After an actual half hour of fighting, trading insults and reaching the conclusion of this fight being a draw, Sesshomaru took his leave of the two fighters.

 

Both Inuyasha and Koga stared at the retreating form of Sesshomaru as he headed in the direction Mika rode. “He's going to kill her! We'd best get there ahead of him!” Koga yelled as he took off in a whirlwind.

 

Inuyasha sheathed his blade as a low growl escaped his throat. “How can this be happening? I need to protect her.” Oblivious to his injuries, which were healing quickly, he leapt into the trees, bounding from tree to tree following Koga's whirlwind.