InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Saving the World: One Hanyou at a Time ❯ Man in the Baboon Mask ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six

Man in the Baboon Mask

 

It was the feudal era of Japan and it became quickly apparent to Buffy that man hadn't changed much through out the past five centuries.

 

Buffy sat behind Kagome watching her squirm knowing it could only mean one thing. Kagome made the fatal mistake of drinking a can of green tea right before they left and now, ninety minutes later, her bladder was making her pay.

 

She yelled in Inuyasha's ear and he seemed to be ignoring her. Buffy was reminded of her family's many pre-divorce road trips; her poor dad traveling with three women. Just like her dad, Inuyasha didn't want to stop.

 

Buffy wasn't even sure how he had the endurance to keep up the killer pace. Eventually Kagome grabbed an ear and that seemed to do the trick because he slowed down and allowed both girls to slide off his back.

 

Kagome made a mad dash for the bushes and Buffy turned to Inuyasha. “How do you run like that?”

 

He grinned, “I'm only half human…sometimes it pays off.”

 

Buffy nodded, “You can say that again.”

 

He shrugged, “Ya ain't so bad yourself.”

 

She looked up at him in surprise. “Was that a compliment? Are we having a real conversation?”

 

Inuyasha frowned. “Did you hear that?”

He swung around; his hand hovering over the hilt of Tetsusaiga. Buffy looked around hoping that whatever he'd heard was merely Miroku and Sango but no luck. The taijiya and monk had gone on without them.

 

A blood curdling scream shattered the warm afternoon. Inuyasha pulled out the Tetsusaiga and it flashed to it's full size. “Kagome!”

 

He yelled as he plunged into the woods. “The fuckers have got Kagome!”

 

Buffy was right on his heels. They raced thorough the brush and ducked under tree branches as their heels pounded the dusty ground. `Why did she go so far away just to pee? God I hope she hasn't been kidnapped. She does seem to meet every kidnapping stereotype.'

They came to an empty clearing and Inuyasha stopped to sniff the air searching for Kagome's scent. He threw out a clawed hand. “She's this way.”

 

He bent down and Buffy flung herself onto his back. They flew through the woods in pursuit of… what? She had no idea but whatever it was, it was fast.

 

Inuyasha's bare feet beat the dirt path for a solid five minutes than came to an abrupt stop. Buffy craned her neck and saw some kind of yokai over the treetops.

 

It was huge. Five or six stories tall, with grey skin, sharp jagged teeth and a horn on either side of it's flat head. It had a pointed tail, red eyes, a loin cloth and an unforgettable stench. Buffy's stomach rolled. `Ick, this is the stinky stuff of nightmares. He's the MacDonald's version of a super sized monster…'

It opened an enormous gaping hole of a mouth and howled. It held Kagome in it's meaty fist and it's foul breath blew her hair back from her face.

 

She was screaming something to Inuyasha. The wind changed directions and Buffy was overwhelmed with the thing's stench but she was able to hear Kagome.

 

“Inuyasha, it has a shard in it's forehead! Inuyasha! IT'S IN HIS FOREHEAD.”

 

Inuyasha braced himself with his feet spread apart. He hefted his sword and called, “Wound of the wind!”

 

The air swirling around his sword became momentarily visible. He flung a wall of energy from the sword and the creature stumbled. It dropped Kagome and he raced to catch her. The monster struggled to regain his footing.

 

Buffy's mind raced. `He's so big…how can I take him out? Damn I wished I had Anya's ex boyfriend's troll hammer. I love that hammer. But if wishes were horses…'

 

She thought fast and then did the next best thing. Her hand reached up behind her back and she carefully withdrew the antique Tetsusaiga. She held it out in front of her and was surprised how it seemed to pulse in her hand. `Odd, I thought the sword would only respond to Inuyasha but there might be something I can do with it after all…'

 

She opened her mind and briefly shut her eyes. Buffy envisioned the first slayer and her demonic beginnings. Buffy's lips spread in a confident grin. `Two can play at this half yokai game.' She opened her eyes and saw the sword snap to life. It was heavy but still manageable. It only grew to half its normal size and but the hilt was still furry. Buffy counted her blessings and turned to face the monster.

 

The yokai took a few steps towards her with the intention of stomping her to death.

 

Buffy circumvented his foot and caught him on his bare side with the blade of her living sword. She hit him in what she hoped was his kidneys. He howled in pain.

 

Inuyasha was on the other side of the clearing charging towards the giant gargoyle-ish creature who was completely distracted trying to squash Buffy.

 

Inuyasha ran full tilt up it's arm. One swift swing of the Tetsusaiga and the gargantuan head rolled from it's neck and fell to the ground.

 

It bounced once and nearly rolled over Buffy.

 

She jumped back out of it's path. As the head rolled past she saw it was still alive. The fiend's eyes opened and closed as it's nostrils flared. Blood poured from the severed neck and she just missed a red shower.

 

The headless body stood up and began to feel around, searching for it's head. Buffy was surprised but decided to make sure he didn't find it. Looks like this calls for a good ole fashioned game of keep away.

 

She ran ahead of the headless monster. She reached the head first and gave it a good roll and finished by kicking it into the woods. She heard the thing growl after she kicked it.

 

She turned to see what the body was up to when a white and red flash shot past her. It was Inuyasha in hot pursuit of the now runaway head. `Well if he wanted a souvenir than he should've told me.'

 

He threw himself in front of the head which was quickly gaining speed much like a giant cartoon snowball. The head made full contact with the palms of his hands and spun away. Inuyasha followed it and pulled something from the forehead.

 

The body slowed, took a step than crashed to the ground. Buffy glanced around and spotted Kagome on the far side of the clearing well out of harm's way.

 

`I don't know exactly what those shards are but I think I have a pretty good idea of what they are capable of…'

 

Just when she thought it was over she saw a man sitting in a tree branch watching. He was dressed…in the skin of a baboon?

 

`I'd hate to see that dry cleaning bill.'

 

He was frowning and Buffy's gut told her he was responsible for sicking the gargoyle thing on Kagome. He probably gave it the shard Inuyasha pulled from it's forehead.

 

She strolled up to the tree and slammed the antique Tetsusaiga against the tree trunk. The tree shook and the man leapt from his branch to the ground landing in front of her.

 

He seemed genuinely surprised. `So this is Naraku?' He obviously had no idea who she was.

 

`But then that makes sense. The First I'm fighting is the future form of this thing. He wouldn't know me. Good, makes this all the more fun.'

 

She squared off with him. He kept his hands out and she stepped sideways circling him. He kept pace with her waiting for Buffy to make the first move.

 

Then he lunged at her. She jumped out of the way and struck him across the leg with the sword. He fell back and his robes fell open revealing a mass of fifteen or twenty tentacles.

 

`Nasty! Well it wouldn't have been an Asian demon if there weren't tentacles.'

 

Buffy charged, and swung wide. The Tetsusaiga cut him cleanly in half.

 

She was grossed out and elated at the same time until his body hit the ground. His robes dissolved and the only thing remaining was a wooden doll.

 

`No fair, he's using magical puppets! What a coward.'

 

She stepped away and swirled around searching the immediate area for any more opponents. And Buffy found one, ready, waiting and primed.

 

Inuyasha was only feet away from her with his Tetsusaiga extended. His chest heaved with adrenaline as he waited for her next move.

 

His lips curled back and he spat, “So…where'd ya get that sword?”

 

“It's the property of The Watcher's Council. They loaned it to me for this mission.”

 

He nodded, “That's my Tetsusaiga.”

 

`Yes but it's from my era.” Buffy struck a defensive posture and prayed she wouldn't have to go head to head with Inuyasha. She wasn't feeling as confident as she had the last time.

 

“But it's accepted you?” He raised his sword and pointed it at her.

 

Buffy felt cornered but didn't want him to know. “Of course. I am the Slayer.”

 

Inuyasha took a step closer. “So you've said. Sango is a yokai slayer and she can't use the Tetsusaiga.”

 

Somehow Buffy had the feeling Inuyasha had never let the taijiya try. “We don't know that I can use your Tetsusaiga. Who knows what The Council's done to this sword so that I can use it? It could be under a spell.”

 

He growled. “They didn't do a damned thing. I can feel it now. My Tetsusaiga, it recognizes you. Not even Sesshomaru can use it but you can? What the hell are you bitch?”

 

Buffy danced around him trying to shake up the situation. “So we are back to where we started huh?”

 

His only answer was, “Keh!”

 

“I am The Slayer, not a slayer; but the one and only chosen one of my generation. I've slaughtered countless vampires, demonic bosses, giant snakes, stopped at least nine apocalypses, fought a god, died twice and oh yeah, I passed French 215.”

 

Inuyasha was impressed but he answered with, “So?”

 

His arm shook and he relaxed it pointing Tetsusaiga towards the ground. “That sword was forged from my great demon father's fang. It was broken then repaired with one of my own fangs.”

 

Buffy raised her eyebrows. “Umm I had my wisdom teeth taken out last year?”

 

Inuyasha leaned against the sword on one hand. “Did ya have any of them forged into a magical sword?”

 

“Not so much.”

 

He grinned flashing a white smile with sharp canines, “Then I think I'm winning this one.”

 

Buffy was perplexed. When did he stop being angry? Was he just playing with me this whole time? What an ass. “Touché.” She allowed and waited for him to demand she give him the antique.

 

He seemed to read her mind as he leaned in close and his warm breath brushed the shell of her ear. “You can keep it. It isn't nearly as big as mine.”

 

Buffy's face burned with a hot blush. She heard Kagome approaching and turned her face where Kagome wouldn't see it. Inuyasha behaved as though he completely forgot Buffy was standing there.

 

“Kagome! Are you okay?” He put his hand on her arm and circled her to see if she was unharmed.

 

She pushed him away. “I'm fine. It was Naraku. He really has it in for me ever since I nailed him with that arrow.”

 

Buffy took a deep breath and dived right in to the role of bearer of bad news. “Guys?”

 

Kagome looked up. “Yeah.”

 

Buffy announced, “Naraku didn't recognize me.”

 

Inuyasha was intrigued. “Really? Do you think we were wrong about The First?”

 

Kagome smiled. “That would be a big relief.”

 

Buffy frowned. “Oh no this is much, much worse.”

 

They answered in unison. “How?”

 

“It means there are two Firsts. The one here in your time that is Naraku and the one from my time that has followed me here. What if they discover the concept of teamwork?”

 

Inuyasha summed it all up in two words. “Oh fuck.”

 

_-_-_-_

 

After the fight everyone was ready for a break. Inuyasha was itching to find Sango and Miroku and share the bad news.

 

Buffy pointed out they weren't in any immediate danger but she wanted to get word to Giles and find out everything they could on Naraku. For the moment everyone was tired and they voted for a break.

 

Kagome couldn't believe how strong Buffy was. “How did you learn to fight like that?”

 

Buffy grinned. “I've had lots of on the job training.”

 

“And the Tetsusaiga let you wield it!”

 

She smiled grimly, “Yeah there was blood, guts and brain stem…it was a regular Buffy party. The only way it could have been better is if it were my birthday.”

 

Kagome gave her an odd look and Buffy was forced to explain her bad luck with social events.

 

“I can kind of identify with you there. Sometimes Inuyasha follows me to school.”

 

Buffy's eyebrows went up and she leaned forward. “Now this I gotta hear.”

 

“Last time he saved me from a perfectly defenseless volley ball.”

 

Buffy laughed, “Wow, ya know I hear those volley balls are killers.”

 

_-_-_-_-_-_-_

 

Inuyasha stood atop the tree balancing on the highest limb. He was surveying the landscape just in case Naraku had a back up plan. So far everything was quiet.

 

Normally he hated leaving Kagome alone but she was with Buffy and he felt confident she would be able to defend her.

 

He turned his head and the spotted something walking through the grass in the open field. `What the hell? Whatever it is ain't too smart. It's in an open field where anyone can take a shot at it.'

 

Inuyasha skimmed down the tree and hit the ground running on all fours. As he got closer to the figure he detected it scent.

`Full blooded yokai, is it working for Naraku?'

 

He rose up on his haunches and peered over the tall grasses for a closer look.

 

It was a girl. She had a slight figure and wavy blonde hair that came to her shoulders. She was wearing a modern day red sundress while strolling through the field carrying a matching pocketbook.

 

She paused, opened her purse and pulled out a pair of designer sunglasses then proceeded through the fields.

 

Inuyasha was lowering himself back down in the grass when she spotted him. She pointed to him as she called out. “You there!”

 

`Damn it! She's seen me. Might as well go see what she wants. I think I can take her if I need to.'

 

He stood and answered, “Yeah, what?”

 

She sped up and jogged to over to him as best she could in high heels.

 

“Ah I see.” She said upon meeting him.

 

Inuyasha demanded, “See what?”

 

“You are only half demon. But that's okay you can still help me.”

 

Inuyasha frowned and crossed his arms, “What's it to ya?”

 

“I need your help.” She dug through her purse and produced a tiny picture.

 

She held it out and Inuyasha squinted at it in the bright sunlight. “Have you seen this girl?”

 

He snatched the picture away and studied it. It was Buffy only her hair was short in the same style the First was wearing when it visited him earlier.

 

“How much is she worth to ya?”

 

The girl pulled down her glasses and gazed at him over the rims. “Oh you misunderstand. I do not wish to ransom her, only speak with her. She is my friend.”

 

Inuyasha wasn't so certain that was true.

 

“Okay sometimes she is my friend. There has been some tension since I went back to my old career. She's accusing me of being recently evil you understand. Some people take such things WAY too seriously.”

 

His head began to hurt. “What in the hell are you rambling on about?”

 

She waved the photo in the air. “Look dog-man can you help me or not? I'm willing to pay. Of course I will need a receipt for tax purposes.”

 

“If I take you to her will ya shut the hell up?”

 

Anya blinked. “Sure.”

 

“Then you've got yourself a deal. Let's go.”

 

_-_-_-_-_-_

 

Buffy was finishing the last her of ramen noodle cup when Inuyasha returned. He looked more disgusted than usual when he pointed at her.

“I found something that belongs to you.”

 

“What?”

 

She glanced up and was shocked to see Anya trotting behind Inuyasha.

 

Anya stopped in front of Kagome first. She gave her a long up and down look. “Your skirt, it's nonexistent! Does your mother know you dress this way? And around half demons too?”

 

Kagome looked down at her outfit and turned beet red. “Actually it's my school uniform.”

 

Anya made a face then spotted Buffy. “Ah there you are. I tried to pop in closer to you but it's harder to do that this far back in the past.”

 

“Anya! What are you…how did you get here? I didn't know you could time travel?”

She shook her head and her earrings bobbed along with her movement. “I can't but I can find you. It's part and parcel of the whole vengeance demon perk package.”

 

“But I thought you lost your privileges because you weren't meeting your…ahh...quotas?”

 

Anya didn't answer that and Buffy realized it was probably just better that way.

 

“Anyho it's good to see you. I really need to talk to Giles can you take him a letter for me?”

 

Anya nodded, “But I'm here to tell you about Spike too.”

 

Everyone's ears perked up at the mention of Spike's name. Kagome noticed Inuyasha listening intently.

 

Buffy grimaced. “What about him?”

 

“The First, it's getting worse. Dawn heard it visiting him yesterday in your basement. It has new tricks. This time it came in the form of your Inu-hanyou. Giles sent me to see if you've learned anything new that we can use.”

 

“Giles is worried about Spike?”

 

Anya blushed. “No he avoids him like the plague of purple seeping boils. Xander, Dawn and Willow are helping Spike. I just don't want to see any harm come to him. He really isn't a bad guy.”

 

Buffy nodded. “It's okay Anya. And you're right I did want to know. But it's been here with us pulling the same old stunts.”

 

She smiled grimly, “It's actually good to see you.”

 

Anya looked away and she twisted her purse strap around her hand. “Yeah, you too.”

 

_-_-_-_

 

Kagome supplied Buffy with pen and paper and she wrote Giles a long letter explaining the events of the past days. She even mentioned the sexual nature The First was adopting because every little detail counted.

 

Meanwhile Anya trailed Inuyasha bombarding him with questions while trying to trick him into getting his ears within reach of her fingers.

 

He called down to her from the tree he'd scaled in an attempt to escape her. “If ya know what's good for you, you'd leave me alone.”

 

“You know Inuyasha you really owe me one.”

 

He spat, “Really and how do you figure that?”

 

She called up to him, “About fifty years ago this dying priestess called me to her side to damn you and wreak her vengeance.”

 

Inuyasha was silent.

 

“But the funniest thing happened.” Anya laughed. “I got caught up with this whole love triangle thing at the court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Something to do with that whole Spanish Inquisition deal and as a result I was so late. When I arrived you were already pinned to that tree and there was nothing more to be done because my client was deceased”

 

He growled and ground his teeth.

 

“So you really should thank me. I was supposed to pox your penis and make your ears fall off….oh and give you an incurable infestation of fleas.”

 

A tree branch whizzed through the air and narrowly missed hitting Anya in the head.