InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Say Goodbye ❯ Chapter 7 Vulnerability ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

7 Vulnerability

The night approaches
As we near the flower
If we are attacked
While I'm vulnerable
Will I make it
And still get back
To her before it's too late
If she's counting on me
What other choice do I have
A risk that must be taken
I must stay strong
For her sake
If not for mine
She's all I have
But what if I fail
Will she still be with me
If I go too...
She's too important
For me to let down
Whatever the cost
I will not falter
As I seek to protect her
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"So what's the plan, Miroku?" Kouga asked as he dodged an attack from the lava creature.

"Hm...we'll need someone who's fast enough."

"Cut the damn dramatics, monk, and tell us."

"Kouga, I need you to lure this creature away from here, away from the volcano vents."

"Lead it away? That's easy enough. Step back mutt and I'll show you how to fight."

"You mean run away because I don't see how you can fight while running from the enemy. Besides, a slow mangy wolf like you can run as fast as you can think, and believe me, you're sure one hell of a slow runner."

It took Kouga to realize the meaning of Inuyasha's words. "Hey, take that back you dumb cur!" he yelled as he jumped away from another attack.

"See? Like I said, you're one slow hairball that only knows how to run." The rest of the argument was gone to the wind as the two began luring the monster away.

"What's your plan, houshi-sama?"

"Simple, all we do is get those two to lead the creature away from here. As it moves further away from the volcanoes, the more vulnerable it shall be to our attacks. It will dry itself out while trying to attack and defend itself. Now, let's catch up with those two, before they decide to go at each other."

"You're sure this will work?" Ayame asked as he and Sango mounted Kirara.

"Positive."

When Miroku, Sango, Ayame and the rest of the pack finally caught up to Kouga and Inuyasha, the creature was already at a point where it couldn't regenerate.

"About time! Now what're we supposed to do?" Inuyasha yelled up to Miroku.

Miroku shook his head and tsked. "Isn't it obvious? Just fight it. It's very simple, or do you need help with my explaining of that as well?" he asked as he and Sango dismounted Kirara.

"Shut it, monk! You could've told us that before we headed off to lead it away. We could've been back to the volcanoes by now."

"Less talk, more fighting, mutt-face. We've got us a flower to get!" Kouga said as he began sending ground attacks to the lava monster.

Inuyasha drew out Tetsusaiga and it transformed automatically. "I wonder if I can get away with slicing both you and the creature?" he wondered to himself.

"What was that, dog-shit?!" Kouga said, turning back to him.

"Nothin'," he lied. "Stand back, wolf, unless you really wanna go down with this piece of shit! Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha slammed down Tetsusaiga to unleash the Wind Scar.

Part of the monster's leg disintegrated from the blast, and some of the monster's body slumped down as it tried to form another leg from its already hardening body. It saw that there wasn't any lava near and tried to head back. Inuyasha and Sango stopped it from going any further.

"Don't know where you think you're going, but I know what you're gonna be in a few seconds." The creature kept moving towards the closest vent in sight.

"It's body, it's hardening. Everyone, attack now before it reaches the lava!"

Inuyasha did another Kaze no Kizu and Sango threw Hiraikotsu at the monster's arm while Ayame and Kouga did more ground attacks at it. The other wolves began kicking and punching and biting off the hard molten rock. As more of its body was destroyed, the more quickly its body became hardened.

"It's working!" Ayame shouted as she came back up from another attack.

"Inuyasha, do it now!"

"Everyone, back up, except for you Kouga, stay right where you are," Inuyasha said with a smirk as the others stepped back from the demon, including Kouga. "Kaze no Kizu!!"

The Wind Scar shot from Tetsusaiga to the remains of the molten youkai, and they were destroyed in the blast. Inuyasha stood up straight and sheathed Tetsusaiga again. Kouga ran up to him and whacked him in the head.

"What did you mean 'stay right where you are'? You're really trying to kill me, aren't you?!"

"Maybe."

"Why I oughta..."

"Come on, you guys. We still gotta get to the flower and back to Kagome. Let's go!" Ayame said as the others had already begun to run back towards the volcanoes. Inuyasha and Kouga stood there for a few seconds before realizing that the others were leaving them.

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"Hey, mangy wolf! Are we close yet?!"

"Whatcha asking me for? I've never been this far in the mountains!"

Inuyasha nearly tripped in his pace. "What?! What do you mean you've never been this far?! Aren't you and Ayame supposed to be leading us to the direct spot?!"

"What made you think we actually knew where the flower is? We only know that the flowers're past those volcanoes. Our tribes have never been able to make it this far without losing many of our numbers. And that's because of those damned birds of paradise! They tried to wipe us out even when we wanted to leave the caves!"

"When I get back with the flower to Kagome, you are so gonna feel every agonizing pain of Tetsusaiga hacking you into pieces, starting with the reason of your mating!"

"Oh, gross!" Ayame exclaimed at the vile comment. "Could you not say that, around me?"

"Keh, well, you'll need to know since you are his only reason for it existing."

"I'm not hearing this...I'm not hearing this..." Ayame kept saying to herself.

"Oi, dog-shit, stop scarring my mate with your dumbass threats! We've got more company to welcome."

Inuyasha grinned evilly. "Keh! All the more things to play with before I warmup for kicking your ass!"

"You would think for just this one time, they would stop fighting, for Kagome's sake," Sango sighed as she let Miroku off Kirara since he was much suited for ground than mid-air battle.

"Would you expect any less from those two?" Miroku said as he sliced through a millipede demon with Shakuju.

"Guess not. Kirara!" Kirara finished tearing through another insect demon and ascended before Sango leapt up to use her infamous weapon. "Hiraikotsu!" she yelled as the huge weapon whistled through the air and assailed upon eight demons before returning to Sango. She landed safely on the ground before taking out her sword. She blocked a bat demon with her boomerang and whacked off its wings with the katana.

"I think we're close. The demons here are getting more numerous and tougher as we go deeper within the mountains," Ayame said as she began drop-kicking several demons to the ground, smashing their heads.

"Maybe, but we'll never get there if we keep having to fend off these demons here. Hey, Inuyasha, we could use a hand!"

"Keh! Pathetic humans. Can't handle a few demons, monk?!"

"A few, yes, but try a few hundred."

"Damn it! Where are they coming from? I ain't got time for this! Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha struck Tetsusaiga to the ground and let the waves of power ascend upon the demons to create a clear path. "Let's move it!"

"For once, dog-shit's right. Leave the small ones to the wolves. Ayame and I will take out the big, dumb ones while y'all get to the flower."

"Right," Sango mounted Kirara once again and began moving forward along with Inuyasha and Miroku.

"Inuyasha, do you smell anything yet?"

"No, how am I supposed to know? I've never been around one of those things befo- Wait, I think I can get a whiff of a small flower field around here. There!" Inuyasha changed his direction slightly to the right and the two followed him.

It took another ten minutes before Sango took sight of a small meadow, but youkai were starting to block the way. "Inuyasha!"

"Yeah, I see it. Looks like they want to play as well. Can't blame them for wanting to protect their home, but we ain't really doing anything to it but plucking a few flowers." Inuyasha neared the youkai and brought out Tetsusaiga. "Move it, unless you wanna go down just like your friends did!" The youkai moved forward, not heeding his warning. "I warned ya, but have it your way!" Inuyasha sliced through the youkai horizontally and slashed again to clear a path for Miroku and Sango.

"Hurry up and get the flowers! I'll handle these measly things."

The two nodded as they ran past him. Miroku pulled out a cloth from his robes. "Sango, place them in this. Quick!"

Sango picked a few choice ones that seemed in perfect condition while Miroku held back the youkai away from her with his kazaana. She picked about ten of them before tying the cloth back together. She picked up Hiraikotsu and gave the cloth back to Miroku.

"Inuyasha! Let's go! We've got the flowers!" Sango called as she mounted Kirara.

"Right! Kaze no Kizu!" he yelled as he tried to hold back the rest of the youkai to let Sango and Miroku get a head start. He followed directly behind them, leaving the youkai to pick up their clan's remains. They made it back to the wolves in less time and saw that they were just finishing up with the few youkai there.

"Dog-shit! It took you long enough! Did you get the flower?"

"Did you get any dumber?!" Kouga looked like he was ready to send some of his cracks back before he thought better of it. "Don't answer that if your brain hurts too much. Now move your fat ass so we can get back to Kagome."

"Don't know what you're talking about! I could leave you in the dust if I felt like it."

"Right, better yet, stay here. You'll slow us down with your thinking."

Kouga growled but Ayame tried to soothe him before they all took off once more.

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"Kouga, I think some of the guys need to go back to the caves. They look not well," Hakkaku called up to the ones in lead.

"Fine, they'll slow us down if we keep dragging wounded wolves."

"Yeah, let's throw away some of the dead weight. That way, I won't have to deal with this pea-brain here trying to pry me to death with his meaningless jibberish." Inuyasha smirked as he heard Kouga growl threateningly.

"Don't worry, I can quickly arrange something to keep you from hearing me. I could just off you and all's'll be well."

"And what makes you think you can even come close to trying to do me in?"

"Easy, just hit you in your weak point."

"And that would be?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

Inuyasha spun around so fast that it was all just a blur. "You wouldn't dare hurt Kagome?!!!"

Kouga ran and whomped him hard on the head. "You damn piece of shit! What in seven hells makes you think I'd hurt Kagome! You oughta just be killed right here on the spot for even thinking that I would ever think of that, dog-shit! I was talking about the moon, you ass!"

"Well, if someone hadn't been trying to- How do you know about the moon?!"

"You're as thick-skulled as ever, dim-wit! I saw you over a year ago when you foolishly went out trying to show off, pretending to save me from Kagura when I could've taken here by myself."

"I wasn't trying to save you. I was trying to save the jewel shards from being taken by her. I could cared less about what happens to you."

"Hey, guys, night's approaching pretty fast and tonight is the new moon, so if you don't mind we need to hurry and find some place to camp before the sun drops. We only have three days left," Sango informed them.

"Pathetic humans. I could've been to Kagome with the flower by now if it wasn't for you humans and the mutt here needing to rest every five minutes."

"Fine then go, but you ain't gonna get your little, dirty hands on the flowers."

"You’re as stubborn as hell!"

"Damn it all!" Inuyasha said as the final remnants of the day disappeared as did the sun behind the horizon. Immediately, the transformation began as Inuyasha's molten golden amber eyes turned dark, his gleaming silver hair became black as night, and his dog ears disappeared from view as his human ears appeared behind his long, dark locks.

"Dog-shit, I really hate you right now. This is gonna cost us half the time we got left since you were already slow as snails in your mutt form."

"Shut it, shit head. Let's just hurry up before any body decides to come along."

Everyone took off, but at a slower pace, just so Inuyasha could keep up. "So, just tell me one good reason why I can't just off you right now for slowing us down so much?"

"Kagome'd hate you."

"She'd never hate me, not after all we've been through."

"Oh! And what have you two gone through, Kouga?" Ayame asked.

Kouga let a huge fat sweat drop fall down the back of his head. He didn't time to react to the question.

"Inuyasha! There's an evil presence nearing," Miroku informed the now human hanyou.

"You sense it too, huh, monk? ...I know that scent..." Kouga took a minute before the scent registered as the wind took an awkward shift. He snarled. "Kagura! Where are you, you devious wench?!"

Kagura came down from her tornadoes in the sky. She landed on one foot and her other knee. She stood up straight as she saw the bunch. "Kouga, so nice to see you. And Inuyasha. I see you've succumbed to your weak, human body."

"Ayame, take all the wounded wolves and head back to the mountains. Ginta, Hakkaku, head back with her. The rest, stay with me."

"But Kouga!"

"Did you not hear my orders! Go now!" Ayame nodded and lead the wolves back in the opposite direction, back to the mountains they had just passed the day before.

"I see you've received the flower. Unfortunately, Naraku knows of your plans. They will not succeed, not when we have Kagome with us."

"What?!" Inuyasha yelled in skepticism.

"Do you not believe me? Gaijin!"

A tornado descended from the clouds that had already began to form. When it dissipated, a form lay sprawled on the ground. Everyone gasped as they saw a lowly demon raise up the form and threw it a few feet closer to them. It seemed to be Kagome.

"Kagome!"

"Come and get her, if you wish, but it is too late for her. You cannot help her."

'Something's not right. It looks like Kagome, but the scent, it's slightly different,' Kouga thought. 'She...doesn't have any true aura to herself... Almost like she's lifeless...'

Inuyasha began running towards her. "Wait, mutt! Stop, that's not Kagome!"

Inuyasha hadn't heeded Kouga warning. He ran to her prone form and leaned over her. "Kagome, are you alright? Kagome, answer me."

She opened her eyes, but they weren't the same ones. They held no brightness, no hope, no feeling. They seemed almost soulless. The brown didn't reflect the same emotions he knew they always held.

"Inu...yasha..." she managed weakly.

"Don't talk, you're...you're hurt."

"N-No..." She brought a hand to his cheek, but it held no warmth.

Something wasn't right as she traced the contours of his face. Her hand faltered as it fell slightly to his chest. "Inuyasha...I'm not...I'm not...the one you should...worry about..." she let out slowly, as if she were in great pain.

"What are you talking about? Stop talking; you're hurt."

"No, I'm not." A devious smile lit her lips. Her hand and fingers suddenly extended and tore through his body.

"Inuyasha!" Sango called.

"Damn it, mutt!" Kouga muttered.

Sorry, but I’ve been having bit of a writer’s block and my uncle died on the fifteenth. I’ve been so busy with his funeral and trying to get everything together. Well, chapter eight is up.

Final Words

Kouga: Oh, great, mutt-face! You’ve done it now.

Inuyasha: Sh-Shut it, wolf. You’re not helping. Damn it, Kagura! What did you do?!

Kagura: (laughing) You’re so reckless, Inuyasha. So foolish to save the human you love. I shall enjoy the look on your face as you watch her die right before your eyes, just before you too suffer a painful death.

IY: D-Damn you, Kagura! If you dare lay a hand on her…

Kou: You’ll pay for this, you conniving wench! I’m gonna… What the hell?!

Miroku: Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

Sango: Keep your damn hands to yourself, hentai!

(crash)

Kagu: Get off of me, monk. You and your demon slayer will be the first to be slain.

IY: Wha…What just happened?

Kou: I think that monk of yours needs to learn what not to do at times like this. At least that demon slayer knows how to aim.

Mir: (Koed) Ooohhh, look at all the pretty Sango’s. Such nice figures. Please bear my children, ladies…

Kagu: Get him off…Aaahh!

San: Die, monk! (launches Hiraikotsu)

Kou: Well, the monk is dead. What about Kagura?

IY: Stop wasting your time thinking. We gotta get past Kagura!

Kou: Well, hide and watch. You’re gonna see a preview of what it looks like when I kick your ass.

IY: (grumble, grumble, growl)
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