InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sunset Love ❯ Dowfall part 2 ( Chapter 11 )

A/N~ sorry it has taken me so long to get out this chapter… between working a lot and being slightly sick these past few weeks my inspiration has slipped out the window. Hopefully this will make up for it. Thank you all for yer patience.

 

Disclaimer- Regrettable I do not own the anime Inuyasha nor any of the characters portrayed in it. I just want to torment them for a while…:P

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Chapter 11 ~ Downfall part 2

 

The fading light of the setting sun cast its light across the training ground where three figures stood in silence. Two stood glaring at each other with determination, an air of tense waiting emanating between them. The third held his clawed hands aloft trying to gain the silence of the gathered crowd as jeering, hissing, and whoops of encouragement cluttered the air.

 

One figure, a slender woman, was dressed in the traditional robes of a miko, her face holding a slight amusement that reflected in her dark sapphire eyes. She seemed deaf to the taunts flung at her from the youkai in the large crowd and blind to any but the one she stared so intently at. Standing across from her was a towering, hulk resembling a bear even in his human form. His large arms crossed over a broad chest, hiding the slightly rounded mound of his belly. The simple clothing he wore were the rich shades of forest green and earthen brown, the signature colors of the bear youkai.

 

The crowd had went into an uproar the moment the two combatants had taken their place on the training field and the third youkai was having a difficult time calming them down enough to announce the special conditions of this event. His plain gray kimono hung loose over a gaunt frame, long spindle arms and legs, barely covered by the faded cloth, gave the demon an odd appearance. An elongated face, turned on a thin neck as he peered around at those gathered, catching them in his penetrating gaze of pure black. Those his gaze settled on seemed to freeze, becoming almost hypnotized under the onslaught.

 

The match seemed unfair, the majority of the crowd favoring the large bear youkai. Bets were placed, stakes high, and most believed it was a sure thing. No one but a select few believed that the petite human female could possibly win against the ruff looking demon.

 

After what seemed to be an eternity, the crowd finally quieted enough to see what the bizarre youkai had to say about the unusual event. The youkai cast a glance around at the crowd one last time before his deep bass voice rang out clearly so that all might hear his words.

 

“For untold generations youkai and miko have been mortal enemies locked into an age old war that has claimed many lives on both sides.” The eerie voice sent chills down the young woman's spine as she listened intently to each word. “On rare occasions these two sides have set aside their differences to unite against a greater foe.”

 

A hushed murmur of disbelief went through the crowd at his words. None among the crowd wished to believe the truth behind them, though it was rumored that a hanyou and a miko had united against Naraku less than ten years ago.

 

“This day shall go down in history as the day a youkai and miko have agreed upon an honorable solution to the personal differences between them.

 

May I direct your attention to the wooden rods each combatant holds tightly. These shall be the only weapons allowed during the challenge. Our great Taiyoukai, Lord Sesshomaru has given his consent to allowing this unusual event take place. It is by his will that the lone miko, Lady Kagome be allowed to face off against our own general Ozeki.”

 

The crowd cheered loudly for the bear as his lopsided grin stretched a bit more and he raised his weapon into the air with his own laughing whoop mingling with the crowds. A few outraged cries were heard, each aimed at Kagome, comments she easily ignored.

 

“Both have agreed to the set conditions. Those conditions are that for a fortnight the loser shall be bound in servitude to the victor. The victor may do anything to the loser they wish except inflict bodily injury on them. So our lord decrees so shall it be.” Once again the crowd interrupted him by booing and hissing rang out, though since it was by their lord's decree they dared not shout out anything that might get them slaughtered.

 

Kagome understood that, had seen the looks of hatred most held as they leered at her. Youkai and Miko had been enemies far too long for her liking. Sure there were bad ones on both sides but that didn't mean everyone should be treated like that, yet she didn't not let their ignorance get to her. They didn't understand what she'd know all along. Instead she allowed a secretive smile ghost her pale lips, her eyes never wavered from her intended victim, Ozeki, and the fight ahead.

 

She knew he wasn't going to be easy to defeat without her powers but there were other ways to skin a cat or in this case a bear. As the strange youkai once again caught the crowd's attention and began to speak, Kagome slowly started to form a simple course of action.

 

“The rules of this match are simple. Neither of you may use any power, move, or trick that will bring mortal injury or death upon the other. Do you both agree to these terms?” the youkai looked from woman to bear and at their nod of consent shouted in his loudest voice. “Let it begin!”

 

As he walked from the field, Ozeki leered at the slender miko, his grin that of one confident in his own abilities. His voice held a trace of disgust as he asked, “You ready to be my mule woman?”

 

Kagome did not reply letting her small smile and calm appearance speak for itself. Her eyes never moving from his bulk as the great bear stalked toward her. Kagome could see that he moved swifter than his size would lead a person to believe and it worried her for a moment though she did not allow it to be seen.

 

Ozeki lunged forward, the deep, scratchy roar of his kind ripped from deep within his chest, and he raised the rod back over his head ready to strike her down when he got close enough. Kagome watched, never moving as his weight added to the bear's speed.

 

Only as the rod descended in what most believed to be a crushing blow did Kagome leap into action. Her rod shot up to block Ozeki's even as her slender frame twisted away enough to draw the weapon along his and around to connect with the startled bear's back.

 

A resounding crack could be heard as he stumbled forward, surprise written clearly in his grizzled features. Silence fell over the crowd as Kagome let her rod tip rest against the ground, calmly relaxing her body as she waited for him to regain his footing.

 

Angered, Ozeki lunged for her again and once more she flitted away in the nick of time only to bring her rod forcefully against him with surprising speed and strength. Four times he tried taking her by sheer force and four times she eluded him enough to strike him down.

 

Enraged, Ozeki began striking out at her randomly, his rod becoming almost a blur as the blows rained down on her. Most she effectively eluded or blocked, but a few sent her sprawling. Only her swift thinking and her speed carried her out of the way in time.

 

They fought long and hard, both getting good hits on the other as the dark night became illuminated by torchlight. Bear and woman alike were sore and winded but neither gave away any ground to the other.

 

Blood soaked the front of her haori as the stitches tore open during the hard fought battle, but still Kagome would not allow Ozeki to see any sign of her weakening condition. He in turn surprised her by not seeming to notice enough to take advantage of the situation.

 

From the corner of her eye a flash of red caught her attention and in a moment of distraction she looked toward it only to be sent flying as Ozeki's large clawed paw struck her along side the head. Blood tricked down the side of her face from a small gash just above her right eye where one of his claws had the misfortune of catching in her skin. Instantly she heard Inuyasha and Shippo's voices combine in protest as they started to fight their way through the crowd in an attempt to end the match.

 

A momentary sense of dizziness clouded the girl's vision as she tried to gain her footing. She shook her head trying to clear it but it didn't really help. She could hear Ozeki baring down on her from her left and her friends fighting to get closer somewhere up ahead and she knew she had to react quickly or she would have to do everything that annoying bear told her to do.

 

Letting her senses guide her, Kagome instinctively through a flimsy barrier up around the training field and rolled toward the charging bear enough to avoid the downward strike. The action caused her body to come securely against the demon's legs. Her arms shot out and curled around his right leg and she jerked hard. Unable to stop in time, Ozeki stumbled forward his own weight carrying him over and down. His nose connected hard with the ground, breaking it upon impact. Kagome took advantage of the situation by scrambling out from under his legs and to her feet. Even as he started to get up, a growl of warning emanating from him, Kagome brought her wooden rod down hard against the back of his skull. The strike landed true and knocked the demon unconscious, allowing her a few precious moments to catch her breath.

 

She sank down in a tired, soar heap beside Ozeki and looked up in time to see a frantic Inuyasha struggling against the few guards who were trying to restrain him. His hand was firmly gripping his sword and she knew he was going to try and use the barrier breaker to get to her. A lopsided grin tugged tiredly at the corner of her mouth as she shook her head. The barrier was so weak that if anyone breathed on it, it would probably shatter in a million pieces.

 

As if sensing the waning power in the simple shield, the odd youkai calmly strode through the shimmering pink wall to inspect the snoring demon. Within moments his clawed hands were raised once again in a request for silence.

 

“Lady Kagome has proven her worth and felled our great general. I proclaim her the winner!” his bass voice was buried as the crowd erupted once more into chaos. Cheers and boos mixed together with startling results.

 

Ignoring everyone, Inuyasha and Shippo raced forward to confront the slip of a woman who was struggling to her feet. Strong hands gripped her forearms and pulled her against a stone chest and a deep growl of disapproval rumbled through it.

 

“What the hell are you thinking, Kagome?” Inuyasha demanded, as a worried Shippo looked over his mother for injuries the best he could with his friend holding her so tightly. “He could have killed you!”

 

“Sorry Inuyasha, it was something I had to do.” Kagome mumbled tiredly, her body ached and she could almost swear a couple of her ribs were broken. Next time she'd have to find a better way to beat up a youkai without her powers.

 

“Well next time don't.” He yelled down at her, even as a soft note hovered at the edge of his voice. “Good thing we got back just in time, or else they might have let him kill you.”

 

“She was never in any danger, Uncle Inuyasha,” Rin's soft voice came from behind them and both men turned to see both her and Sesshomaru standing there. “Father allowed only practice weapons and the rules stated that this was not a duel to the death.”

 

“Well he shouldn't have allowed her to do it in the first place!” Inuyasha yelled at her thought not as loud as before. Everyone could tell his anger was slowly being replaced by worry as the scent of blood became more prominent

 

“I do believe we should allow the healer to attend the woman,” Sesshomaru's velvety voice rolled over them and Kagome looked at him gratefully. The last thing she wanted to do was bleed to death before she had a chance to torment the overgrown teddy bear, as she had fondly began to think of him.

 

They took her to the same ancient healer, the only one Kagome would allow to attend to her. The withered woman shooed all the girl's worried friends out of her tent leaving only Sesshomaru to stay before turning to fuss over her patient. The poultices stung as they were laid over Kagome's injuries and she tired hard to hide the pain she was feeling from the Western Lord.

 

Unbidden, her eyes closed and she slipped into a troubled sleep even as the healer told Sesshomaru the girl needed to rest for a while. A guard was posted inside the tent to watch over the young miko as he slipped away to inform her friends of the earlier attack.

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“What do you mean you let her go ahead with the challenge knowing she was hurt?” Inuyasha's yelled in outrage, his hand reflexively resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword. There was a tremble to his body that suggested he was trying hard to control his anger.

 

“She insisted she be allowed to go through with it.” Sesshomaru calmly replied his face showed none of the inner turmoil he was experiencing over Kagome's weakened state. It bothered him that when he'd relayed the earlier events to her friends that only Inuyasha seemed to be angered by it. Shippo, Sango, Miroku, and Kikyo had become thoughtful though they didn't seem surprised any, but his brother had been taken by surprise and even seemed more protective of the woman now than he had been ten years ago.

 

“Since when does the all might Sesshomaru allow anyone to change his mind?” Inuyasha taunted. “She could have been killed!”

 

“She was never in any danger.” Sesshomaru replied, his voice as calm as his appearance. He had allowed it against his better judgment only because she had told him it was something that she had to do.

 

“My mother is a strong willed person, Inuyasha.” Shippo's quiet words brought Inuyasha's heated gaze around at him in a flash. “You very well know this. If it was something she felt she must do then Momma would very well have fought Sesshomaru to get her way.”

 

“Yeah I guess you're right runt, but that still doesn't make it right,” Inuyasha sighed in defeat. He'd been doing a lot of that lately since his friend had returned. “I just don't get it though, why did this demon attack her in the first place?”

 

“I did not attack the miko,” Ozeki's indignant snort brought all eyes around to stare at him. He had emerged from another tent in time to hear the comment and instantly thought that Inuyasha was talking about him.

 

“Keh! Don't flatter yourself,” Inuyasha huffed, his red clad arms crossing defensively in front of him. “I was talking about the Shadow youkai.”

 

“Shadow youkai?” Ozeki turned a questioning glance at his lord, his dark eyes relaying the confusion he felt. His broken nose was swollen enough to distort his ruggedly handsome features giving him a comical look that had a few of the others trying hard not to laugh.

 

Shippo softly told the bear of the events prior to the challenge taking place. By the time he was finished Ozeki looked slightly disturbed but was trying to hide it because of Sesshomaru being there.

 

“So she went through with it anyway?” Ozeki felt dumbfounded, he had smelled the blood during their bout but he had allowed it to go where most would have taken advantage of it. He really didn't want to see the woman hurt but he was determined not to lose at the same time yet something in him had acted protectively toward the irritating woman and had not allowed him to use the situation to his advantage.

 

At the other's nods, Ozeki sighed, “She is an unusual human, one who fights with a youkai heart.”

 

“Lady Kagome has always been like that,” Miroku added, his arm pulling Sango closer to him as though some memory were lingering just behind his eyes. “It is no surprise that someone would attack her though, she was always targeted whenever she came too close to something that took the rest of us a while to put our fingers on.”

 

“Not to mention, if your enemies have gotten word of who she really is,” Sango hugged her husband back tightly, her worry clearly written for all to see, “then it stands to reason that they would try and take her out first.”

 

“I am afraid so, Kagome may poise too great a threat to this usurper.” Kikyo looked to Sesshomaru while she was talking, her chocolate eyes also conveying the worry that the others felt.

 

“When she awakens we will inquire of her more concerning the youkai who attacked her,” Sesshomaru stated calmly. “Until then there are other things I must attend to. Ozeki, it is now your duty to protect the girl until she awakens. Once she has bring her to me.”

 

“Yes M'lord,” Ozeki quietly replied, his head respectfully lowing as he bowed to his lord.

 

Inuyasha not quiet sure whether to trust the bear or not, was about to argue when Sesshomaru's velvety voice cut him short.

 

“Come with me, I would hear your reports on the attack near your forest,” Sesshomaru turned away, the others following. Inuyasha cast a warning glance at Ozeki before following also, every step punctuated with mumbled complaints.

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Ozeki had taken up his place inside the healer's tent where he could better watch the resting girl. His thoughts centered on their earlier fight, it was more of a practice spar to him but she had taken several good hits, yet she had never flinched nor let him see that she was weakening in anyway.

 

It had only been luck that had allowed him to hit her that last time, Ozeki knew that and it irritated him that he had allowed the girl to get under his skin. Kagome had fought like one driven by some inner working that he could never imagine and he had to give the girl credit. She was a force to be reckoned with even without the use of her miko powers.

 

He had made so many mistakes during that fight that if she had been set on purifying him she could have done it over and over again. Anger had replaced common sense and Ozeki knew that was why he had lost in the first place. It didn't matter now; he had two weeks of doing her bidding ahead and something inside of him was actually looking forward to whatever the woman had planned.

 

Ozeki knew she was an honorable woman and did not fear her turning him into a lowly sex slave as he had seem many do, not with the way she looked at his lord. It was funny, he thought as he leaned against one of the tent's support poles, the woman did not seem to know her own interests toward the Western Lord.

 

A soft chuckle escaped as he thought about all the trouble this slip of a woman was going to bring to his lord's castle and strangely the young cub in him couldn't wait to be part of the mischief. The grown youkai in him shuddered at what part might be brought down on his head because of it. This was going to be too much fun.

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A scowl covered Iyashii's features as he stalked angrily away from the healer's tent. He had overheard the conversation between Kagome's friends and did not like the implications. One of his master's other servants were at work here and the thought irked him badly.

 

There was no way he would allow some upstart undo everything he had worked so hard to do. The shadow demon would have to be found and dealt with but its whereabouts were unknown. It could ruin his whole plan thus insuring his death in the long run.

 

The insolence would not be tolerated. Iyashii strode with purpose toward the almost deserted castle. Everyone not on duty had been allowed to attend the events and that suited the inu-youkai just fine. It would be easier to find those in his master's service that way.

 

Quickly he found one young servant who was clumsily poking around in the Council Hall, looking for any evidence that could be used against the young Taiyoukai. Upon his entrance, the young boar instantly tried to appear as though he was straightening the cluttered mess left at the head of the table.

 

Maps had been strew about as if someone had been looking over their contents and Iyashii instantly knew what the young demon was up too. A small grin played on his mind as he summoned the servant to him.

 

Whispered words were exchanged before the grinning fool raced out of the castle toward the Northern Lands. Iyashii watched him go, knowing it would be the last thing the clumsy spy would accomplish before meeting his end at the sharpened claws of his master's favorite pet, Tanaka.

 

“Hopefully that will be the last I hear of this shadow youkai,” Iyashii spoke to himself as returned to the event grounds. If everything played out right, his master would call the demon off and allow Iyashii to proceed with his plan.

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Well that's it for now. Hope this made up for the long awaited chapter. Sorry I'm not too good at writing fight scenes and hoped the duel between Ozeki and Kagome was descriptive enough for you.

 

Once again, the fluff between Sess and Kag will be long in the coming and hopefully now that I'm feeling better I'll be able to step up the addition of new chapters. Thank you to everyone who as taken the time to review my story, you guys make this all worth while.

 

Much love ~ DJ