InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ That Which Shines Brightest ❯ 05: When Two Souls Collide ( Chapter 5 )

That Which Shines Brightest

 

 

 

Chapter Five

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biting her lower lip, Kagome watched tensely as Lokki hurled himself toward Shirogane, her gaze flickering between the two men and the half-slumped figure of Yukino. Just as soon as Lokki was safely past her and had his full attention focused on Shirogane, she tottered forward, her heels making her movement precarious as she picked her way through the debris until she reached Yukino and slid her hands beneath her arms, her voice muted as she tried to rouse the young miko.

“Yukino, can you hear me?” she murmured, grimacing as she tried to hoist the younger girl off the ground. Her body was just too heavy to lift without a little assistance from Yukino herself. “Yuki-chan,” Kagome tried again, scooting around until she was facing Yukino.

Yukino's eyes fluttered half open, a glazed look in them and Kagome threw a quick glance over her shoulder at the two men whose movement was alarmingly erratic. There had been a much more comfortable gap between where she and Yukino were and the threatening presence of Lokki just a split second ago, but Shirogane's long staff was driving him back in their direction. She needed to get Yukino out of harm's way before Lokki was close enough to use her as a tactical weapon. Almost as if he was aware of her thoughts, Kagome saw Lokki turn, looking for Yukino, a scowl on his face when he realized that she was trying to move her.

“Come on, Yuki-chan,” Kagome urged again, softly patting her cheek, “I need you to help me. We need to move. You're brother is here. He's fighting for you.”

“Onii-chan?” Yukino mumbled thickly, and Kagome nodded in encouragement as Yukino blinked several times, her eyes becoming a little clearer.

After a few seconds she turned her head and looked at Kagome who felt a rising urgency that she tried not to show now that they were within arm's reach of Lokki, and she had yet to get Yukino to budge an inch.

“Can you move?” Kagome asked patiently, her eyes again flickering furtively over her shoulder, relieved when Yukino nodded. “Don't worry, I'll help,” Kagome assured a little more hurriedly this time, when it seemed Yukino almost collapsed, too weak to stand on her own.

With a few unbalanced wobbles as they stepped around fallen timbers, Kagome managed to get them out of the way, panting a little, her eyes drawn like a magnet to the open doorway that was directly opposite them. Would it be possible for her to get them across and out on her own? She might be able to help Yukino climb out. The problem was maneuvering all the way over there without running into trouble -- here Kagome's attention momentarily shifted to Lokki - and whether or not Yukino was strong enough to actually attempt the climb. Kagome shot a calculating glance at the flame-haired miko, realizing at once that they would have to rely on some other means of escape. Yukino's head hung down and she too was panting, and Kagome could feel that she had been pushed beyond her endurance, her body held up by sheer will alone.

“Hang in there, Yuki-chan” Kagome said bracingly, the hand she had wrapped around Yukino's shoulders giving her a reassuring squeeze. “Your brother's skill with the staff is amazing. I don't think he can lose.”

Wearily, Yukino raised her head, and began apprehensively watching the battle, her eyes more on the jewel clutched in Lokki's hand than on the battle itself.

Unaware of Yukino's focus, Kagome's admiring gaze followed the flowing grace of Shirogane as he feinted and attacked, his handsome face contorted into a scowl of concentration as he worked to keep Lokki off balance. But after a moment, she shifted uneasily, realizing that the two combatants were once again drawing too close for comfort.

“We need to move again, Yuki-chan,” Kagome said, her arm tightening around the younger girl as she looked at her ashen countenance, afraid that Yukino would pass out. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Yukino replied, sounding a little stronger much to Kagome's relief.

Slowly they began moving, trying to stay out of the way of the two men but this time, there was no stopping to rest, the battle becoming intensely fierce, their movement everywhere now, and Kagome felt a jolt of alarm when she heard Yukino mumble, “This is not good, Kagome. He's toying with Onii-chan.”

 

A feral snarl curled Shirogane's upper lip, a drop of sweat falling into his left eye as he surveyed the swarthy complexion of Lokki. Sliding his hands along the bo, he took a step forward and made a feint, flourishing the bo so that its movement became blurred and then he quickly dropped it to make an upwards vertical nagi strike from torso to chin watching as Lokki once again easily evaded, moving to the side and back out of range. It was just as he'd feared, he surmised grimly. The youki from the Kinmotsu no Tama was being assimilated into Lokki's system and he was gaining physical strength from it. Already his reflexes were faster, and Shirogane couldn't touch him with any of his attacks; but still he had no choice but to continue pressing ahead, watching as Lokki made wild leaps to counter his attacks, while he tried to unravel the strange game the possessed man was playing.

And then it hit him, the minute he saw Kagome and Yukino trying to stay out of their way. They had moved in front of the well and now Lokki was between them and Shirogane.

“Kagome!” Shirogane called in warning but it was already too late.

With a triumphant gleam in his eyes, Lokki was ready for his finale. He threw his knife straight at Shirogane's chest with a quick flick. It flew with such lightning speed that Shiro barely had time to try to deflect it downwards. He heard his sister's horrified scream as she saw his face twist into a grimace of pain as it sank into his flesh, all too aware that Lokki had turned, lowered his shoulder and with a low laugh had tackled them knocking them over the edge and into the blackness of well, quickly following after them.

“No!” Shirogane snarled in strangled denial as he gritted his teeth against the pain blossoming in his leg. Using his bo to bear some of his weight, he limped forward, with an outstretched hand, listening in agony to the echoing screams of his sister and Kagome combined before a bright light shot up out of the well cutting them off abruptly.

With shaking fingers he pulled the small switchblade out of his thigh and let it fall carelessly to the well floor. Clutching tightly to his bo, he vaulted over the rim of the well, his silver braid whipping around in the air behind him as he began to fall through darkness. Please, he prayed, his hand pressing against the throbbing wound on his leg, feeling the warm wetness that was seeping through his slacks, let there be enough power left in my blood to get me through.

 

“Let her go!” Kagome yelled, jamming her feet against Lokki's legs for leverage and pulling at Rin's arms to try and free her from Lokki's clutches as they fell through the portal, Lokki fighting just as viciously to keep his hold on her as Yukino too struggled to free herself.

This journey reminded Kagome sickeningly of her very first time through the well, when she had been captured by the centipede mononoke, fighting to be released, but suddenly everything came to a crashing halt, with her on the bottom. Her head exploded in pain and she was unable to breath as Yukino and Lokki collided against her at the bottom of the well.

“Onii-chan!” Yukino screeched, over and over again as she clawed at the arm that held her in place, “Let me go! Onii-chan. Where did he go? What did you do to him?” she sobbed, all too aware that Kagome lay unmoving beneath her.

The side of Kagome's head was covered in blood and Yukino immediately saw why. She had hit her temple on a half-buried stone at the bottom of the well… oh no… surely she wasn't dead? Yukino reached a hand out towards Kagome but before she could touch her, Lokki hauled her to her feet.

“Leave her,” he said in clipped tones as he headed for the side of the well, despite all of Yukino's pushing and kicking, and she knew that as he absorbed more and more youki into his system the likelihood of her getting away from him became slimmer and slimmer. Throwing her over his shoulder, he began to climb, and she didn't even bother to resist.

“I'm glad you've finally decided to see things my way,” he murmured snidely.

“Please give the Tama back to me, Lokki,” Yukino desperately pleaded, “can't you see that it's manipulating you.”

“On the contrary, Sweetness,” Lokki retorted, as he rapidly scaled the wall, reaching the top where he paused briefly to add, “it's given me exactly what I wanted.”

To prove his point, he let his hand slide suggestively along the bare flesh of her leg and up her thigh until he felt her stiffen, and then he laughed softy. He stopped however when he turned his head and he saw a bare-footed, long haired man dressed in a red kimono and hakama standing a few feet a way, his sword drawn, glaring at him.

“This is new,” the stranger drawled his eyes roving over Lokki's countenance, not missing the Kinmotsu no Tama he held clutched tightly in the hand slung over the side of the well's edge. “Usually when scum gets thrown into the well, it doesn't come back out.”

Lokki scowled and finished climbing out, slowly moving away from the well and Inuyasha followed his movement, never dropping his sword.

“Let her go,” Inuyasha growled, and watched as Lokki lowered Yukino down on the ground in front of him, letting her body slide possessively against his, just to let her know who ws still in charge, despite how things might appear.

Yukino stifled a shiver of repugnance as she turned around to face forward, her eyes widening in amazement.

“Inuyasha,” she murmured, stupefied.

Inuyasha's brows shot up in surprise.

“Do I know you?” he asked her warily.

“N-no,” she stuttered, about to add something more but broke off as the labored sounds of ascent emerged from the well. “K-kagome?” she breathed hopefully and watched Inuyasha's head jerk around, a staggered expression on his countenance as a man with a face similar to his own with amber eyes and silver hair emerged, covered in a film of perspiration and an agonized expression as he struggled to heave himself over the side of the well, Kagome slung limply across his shoulders.

“Onii-chan!” Yukino screeched straining to move forward against Lokki's ever restraining hand when she saw her brother.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha barked at the same time. She was here! His heart pounding out of control, he took a halting step in her direction, glaring at the man carrying her when he realized that she was unconscious. “What the hell did you do to her?”

“If you want to blame someone, blame me,” Lokki murmured maliciously, amused at how quickly Inuyasha's attention had strayed. “She was fighting with me to free Yukino when we fell through the well, so I'm responsible for her condition. Raise your sword, Inuyasha,” he goaded with a gesture. “Come on, lash out at me! Let's see what you can do!”

“Don't,” Yukino cried, shaking her head fearfully, but Lokki kept her from saying more by moving his hand to her throat and tightening his fingers around it. “That's enough out of you,” he muttered.

“Stop, Lokki!” Shirogane growled angrily watching his sister's face change color, her breath rasping in her throat in an effort to draw in sufficient air.

Gently laying Kagome on the ground next to the well, Shirogane struggled to rise back to his feet. The deep gouge in his thigh, already throbbing from the climb out of the well, had begun to cramp from the continued blood loss, and the muscles in his leg started to stiffen and seize up. He was in no condition to fight. As much as he hated it, he must rely on Inuyasha for now, waiting for a chance to lend a hand when he could.

“Fine,” Inuyasha spat, again he turned his attention to Lokki, his sword pointed menacingly at the dark headed man. “But if you want to test my strength, stop hiding behind the little red-head!”

Lokki's lip curled into a satisfied smirk and he let go of Yukino who sank to the ground, gasping for breath. Immediately, Shirogane lurched unsteadily forward, his head beginning to feel light as he helped his sister off the ground. He managed to make it back to the well before his knees buckled and he slumped down, his back against the splintered wooden well wall, tightening his jaw as he tried to push back the darkness that was intruding upon the edges of his vision..

“Enjoy her while you have her,” Lokki said with a flicker of disdain as he watched Shirogane move his sister towards Kagome's supine body, “because you won't keep her long.”

As soon as they were out of the way, Inuyasha raised his sword and charged.. Lokki just stood there, unflinching, and at the very last moment, he dodged. Inuyasha's eyes widened as he pulled up and turned, giving the dark figure a calculating glance, his eyes dropping to the glowing Tama he held so protectively in his hand.

So that's it, eh Inuyasha thought to himself, grimly noting the look of satisfaction on Lokki's face had grown.

“You're a fast bastard,” Inuyasha denigrated, “I'll give you that, but I doubt you'd want to face me in the light of day.”

“Is that it?” Lokki sneered, “Is that all you can do? One little attack and then throw insults at me?” he laughed mockingly. “That priest put up a better fight than you did, and all he had was a stick!”

Inuyasha growled, his brows twitching in anger and then stiffened in surprise when he heard Sango's voice from behind him.

“Careful, Inuyasha,” she warned as she emerged from the trees, holding her Hiraikotsu slung across her back.

“Sango…” Inuyasha mumbled diffidently, his face turning red, “when did you guys get here?”

“About the time you started sniffing around the well,” Shippou exclaimed gleefully as he made a beeline straight toward Kagome.

“Shippou, don't bait Inuyasha” Rin murmured quietly, as she pulled up the rear, her hand automatically reaching back for an arrow in her quiver, a strange feeling beginning to settle in the middle of her chest the closer they drew to Lokki.

“This guy is no ordinary human. He smells strongly of youki.” Sango observed as she came to a halt next to Inuyasha, her eyes moving critically over their opponent.

“Aye, tell me something I don't know,” Inuyasha snorted before he glanced at the small, yellow feline sitting snugly atop Sango's right shoulder. “Kirara,” Inuyasha said gruffly, “go protect Kagome.”

Kirara raised her eyes to Sango's face, looking for her master's approval. Softly, Sango touched the top of her cat's head and nodded. With a meek mewl of acquiescence, Kirara jumped to the ground and transformed, becoming larger and more formidable in appearance before padding in the direction of the well. She growled hostilely at Lokki as she passed by, but gave him a wide berth, aware of what her orders had been.

“Inuyasha,” Rin spoke hollowly from behind them, but neither he nor Sango heard her at first, too startled by the piercing glow that had suddenly erupted inside the Tama Lokki was holding, as he approached them, the air beginning to swirl around him, moving outward in a widening circle.

“Inu… yash…a” Rin's voice was a mere croak of a sound and this time both Sango and Inuyasha turned together to see her standing there, a stricken look on her face, her breathing harsh.

She had nocked an arrow in her bow, but it hung useless at her side and she was trembling all over, her kimono glowing brightly in the center; right where the Shikon no Tama hung around her neck.

“It's reacting to his Tama,” Sango gesticulated in alarm, “move her away, Inuyasha,” she cried as she grasped her Hiraikotsu and took a few steps forward, heaving it at Lokki.

Not surprisingly he dodged it, but Sango had already pulled her choku-to** from its scabbard and was ready to make a slashing attack. With determination she rushed ahead, her blade gripped tightly, trying to anticipate his dodges. Only this time he didn't dodge. He caught her hand, halting it in its forward motion. Their eyes locked; hers full of shock, his brimming with dark chaos. Then he brought his knee up, brutally catching her in the stomach before he knocked her aside, and she went down, gasping for breath.

He didn't even wait until she hit the ground before he was moving onwards and Sango couldn't even cry out a warning when she saw his target.

Inuyasha had just gently put Rin to her feet, when he pivoted on his heel to find Lokki moving his way, his dark eyes, focused intently on Rin, the energy of the Shikon no Tama drawing him inexorably towards her. The wind started moving again the closer he drew to them, as if the two energy sources were colliding

Inuyasha unsheathed Tetsusaiga,

“Shippou, come and get Rin!” he commanded, not taking his eyes off of Lokki.

Lokki turned his head sharply as he saw the young kitsune break away from the small crowd around Kagome and head towards Inuyasha. Immediately Lokki changed directions, planning on intercepting him and laughed softly when the small tyke's face quivered in alarm. How did Inuyasha expect such a timid creature to defend Rin when he himself was terrified? But Lokki's amusement didn't last long. There was a loud POMPH! and Shippou was gone, replaced by a huge, pink, bloated, creature which began ascending into the air above his reach.

He floated towards Inuyasha but was slowed by the whirling winds surrounding Lokki. Slowed, but not stopped, Lokki realized, grinding his teeth in frustration. Deprived of his tiny target, he brought his gaze back down to Inuyasha who was smiling smugly now.

“He won't get away with the miko,” Lokki said, cracking his knuckles. “I defeated Sango. I can defeat you just as easily before he even has a chance to reach her.”

Again he changed directions, charging towards Inuyasha and with one punch, he sent him skidding back, flying in midair until he landed on his back.

“That felt good Inuyasha,” he laughed harshly flexing his hand, feeling a new power coursing through his veins. He advanced while Inuyasha clambered to his feet and looked up at Shippou who was still struggling to get to where they were. “One more then?” Lokki grinned maniacally as he too looked up at Shippou before rearing back his hand for another jab.

Inuyasha went flying once more, the force of the blow tearing open a deep jagged cut high on his cheekbone, and Rin was left standing alone, paralyzed, her breathing shallow as she stared in dread at Lokki.

“Hello pretty girl,” Lokki murmured, his eyes sliding over her face before dropping to the bright glow at the center of her chest. “Show me what secret treasure you have hidden,” he said covetously, reaching up, his hand sliding between the folds of her kimono.

“Stop!” came an enraged howl, as a tall, lithe figure with long flowing hair the color of the sea erupted from the trees. “Don't touch her!”

But it was too late, Lokki's fingers had found what he was looking for and they pulled at the beads connected to the Shikon no Tama, bringing it out into the open so that he could see it.

His lips curved into a smile, and he murmured, “Finally. This is what you were looking for, isn't it?”

He wrapped his fingers around the Tama, preparing to yank it free from its moorings but lost his grip when he was blown off his feet as all hell broke loose.

Atsuji raced across the clearing, “I'm coming, sweet miko!” he declared with sappy fervency, reaching back over his shoulder for his spiked Chigi-riki mace, his steps slowing and his eyes widening in incredulity when he watched his opponent get flattened by a shockwave of raw energy that exploded from the Shikon no Tama -- it almost flattened him as well and he braced his legs apart, finding it difficult to maintain his footing as the grass beneath him was being ripped ruthlessly up and blown away.

Finally the energy abated, and he was able to move without fear of being bowled over, but yet again his steps faltered, his blue-green eyes bulging as he watched a giant, fiery evanescent form emerge from the Tama.

It was an Ijin: a harrowing being of little substance, formed mainly of malevolent thought and energy, its shape changing as it shifted in the wind. Its torso was anchored firmly to the Shikon no Tama that still remained around Rin's neck, who stood, imprisoned by its power just as it was imprisoned by the purifying power she commanded over the jewel.

It flailed its arms, silencing the wind around Lokki by creating its own powerful vortex that served as a type of barrier around Rin, and Shippou went bobbing swiftly away from the creature, as it looked down at Lokki, drawn to the energy source that had extracted it from the Shikon no Tama, agitated by the dark energy of the Forbidden Soul. Lokki slowly gained his feet, and looked at the Kinmotsu no Tama in his hand, fascinated to see that it was pulsing like a heartbeat.

It still wanted the Shikon no Tama.

If he could get it, then his powers would increase tenfold!

I must get the Shikon no Tama he thought emphatically, his fevered musings interrupted when from the corner of his eye, he saw a huge, flaming arm move with lightning speed, and he barely had time to evade it before it left a singed scar on the ground where he had been standing.

Lokki backpedaled, scowling up at the Ijin, then turned his head to see Inuyasha moving purposefully towards him, his sword in his hand. Again the Ijin swung at him, and he eluded it. Inuyasha was forced to swerve out of the way as well, but his recovery was quicker, and this time when he swung his sword at Lokki, he had the advantage of diversion on his side and he didn't miss. His blade sliced through the leather on Lokki's jacket before Lokki could switch his focus to compensate and bit into the flesh of Lokki's shoulder.

Inuyasha watched as enraged color suffused his opponents face and he charged forward, but both he and Inuyasha were forced to break off and back away as the Ijin put its fist right into the middle of where they were, leaving nothing but scorched earth.

“No! Inuyasha!” Shirogane called, struggling to stand on his own. “No blood! That only empowers him!”

Inuyasha turned his head and shot Shirogane an exasperated look. “Just how do you expect me to fight him then?” he ranted, “killing him with kindness isn't gonna work!”

Again Inuyasha and Lokki were forced to dodge the Ijin's heavy handed swing and before Inuyasha could make another attack against Lokki, another stranger stepped close to him, a youkai, and for the second time that night, someone he'd never met before addressed him by name.

“I am here to help, Inuyasha! I will help you -“ he declared fervently, breaking off and ducking out of the way, momentarily scooting away from Inuyasha as the fiery fist once again came crashing down. “— I will help defeat the Ijin and rescue the miko!” He finished dramatically after rejoining Inuyasha at a safer spot, ignoring the stony stare directed at him.

All these freakin' people!!! -- I don't have time for this! Inuyasha seethed silently as he cast a quick glance at the Ijin and then took a quick swipe at Lokki, missing completely, his attention scattered by the youkai's arrival.

“Who are you!? And what are you doing here?” Inuyasha demanded coldly trying to pull his thoughts back into focus.

“I am Atsuji, firstborn son of Gyousei, great daiyoukai of Shikoku,” Atsuji replied, “and I am here here, uh, I am here, uh” he stumbled over the answer for that one, finally adding brightly “I am here to save the miko!”

Inuyasha was in no position to argue with him. He was, after all, a youkai. His reflexes had to be faster than Inuyasha's, but, Inuyasha thought dubiously, eyeing Atsuji's Chigi-riki, how were his weapon skills? Somehow, Inuyasha didn't think they were too good considering how awkwardly he was holding his weapon, as if he was unused to it being in his hand.

“Are you sure you know how to use that thing?” Inuyasha asked doubtfully.

“Certainly!” Atsuji replied confidently. He lifted the mace, brandishing it with a flourish before swinging it experimentally, his eyes widening in surprise when the spiked head shot off and a chain came slithering out of the grip. “Of c-c-course I - I meant to do that!” he stuttered, and raised the mace over his head, ducking to the side to avoid hitting himself with the long spikes as the chain snapped back and sent the ball swinging haphazardly to and fro..

Inuyasha's lips compressed into a thin line as he watched Atsuji began to swing his weapon, the chain moving in an uneven circle.

“Gah! You're more worthless than Shippou!” he declared waspishly, “I'll do this myself,” he said dismissively, his head swiveling back in Lokki's direction watching as he tried to move toward the Ijin and the Shikon no Tama, “you just stay out of the way. - HEY!!!” Inuyasha shouted, ducking to his knees, his hair flying over his head and into his face as he heard the soft and lethal sounding WHOOSH! the Chigi-riki made as it whizzed by his ear. “Watch where you swing that thing!” Inuyasha demanded harshly, glaring as he stood back up, and then dodged to the side as Atsuji closed in on Lokki and attacked, as the spiked tip of his weapon went flying forward and then came flying back.

“Atsuji!” Inuyasha blared in aggravation, noticing that Atsuji's last volley had actually done some damage to Lokki who had been unable to move fast enough to block it, striking him in the back of the leg.

“Uh, s-sorry,” Atsuji replied, getting red in the face. He was preparing to launch another attack when the Ijin struck down at Lokki and they all had to scramble to get out of the way.

“This is getting us nowhere,” Inuyasha declared grimly, his eyes flitting to Rin, whose body was beginning to sag. “The longer this battle goes on the more it affects her.”

“What is fueling it, I wonder,” Atsuji mused worriedly.

“It has something to do with the connection between Lokki's Tama and the Shikon no Tama,” Inuyasha replied.

“So, if we break the connection, then we can get rid of the Ijin. The obvious solution then is to defeat Lokki and carry his Tama farther away.”

“Heh…” Inuyasha snorted derisively, “You make it sound like it's easy, but that's what I've been trying to do. It's not so easy. He's siphoning energy from that thing!” Inuyasha gestured scornfully towards the Kinmotsu no Tama.

Both Atsuji and Inuyasha watched Lokki doggedly move forward to try and get close enough to get the Shikon no Tama, but the Ijin kept him at bay even though Lokki's speed seemed even faster than ever.

“All right then,” Atsuji said, his face becoming more determined, and Inuyasha suddenly experienced a moment of extreme apprehension. “No more playing around then.”

He turned his head and looked at Inuyasha, his aquamarine eyes solemn as he said, “You might want to move back some. I can't guarantee my aim or direction for this.”

Inuyasha shot an alarmed look at Rin, and put a restraining hand out, “Oy,” he called, “If it's that dangerous, then maybe you shouldn't…”

But it was too late. Atsuji had already begun swinging his mace and Inuyasha could see a huge amount of blue youki gathering above it, slender points emerging from the center to form a radiant star.

“Holy hell,” he muttered to himself.

Turning his head, he searched for his friends finding Sango first who had joined Shippou and the others at the well, his eyes coming to rest lastly and lingering upon Kagome who still lay unmoving upon the ground.

Shifting his attention back to those who were conscious, he shouted the warning, “Find shelter!”

Then he stepped closer to Atsuji, his eyes sliding from Lokki to the Ijin and lastly to the frail figure of Rin. He didn't care if Atsuji blasted the first two to hell and back, but he'd be damned if he let anything happen to Rin.

As the roaring sound continued to build, Lokki suddenly seemed to become cognizant of it and he turned, finally distracted from his quest to possess the Shikon no Tama to see Atsuji and Inuyasha standing there, their hair being whipped around by a turbulent wind, a massive star forming over Atsuji's Chigi-riki and he began to experience his first real taste of foreboding.

“Why are you still here?” Atsuji yelled above the thunderous noise his Chigi-riki was making. “My Blue Star Burst is dangerous, I tell you!”

“Do you think I'm going to run for cover like some baby?” Inuyasha snorted. His brown eyes went to Rin's forlorn figure, his grip tightening on Tetsusaiga, and he thought of Kagome lying unconscious over by the well. “I have people I need to protect. I will stay here and make sure that you don't screw up!” He declared, turning to glare meaningfully at Atsuji.

“Understood,” Atsuji acknowledged with a brusque nod.

He made one last circuitous swing with his Chigi-riki, and then, gritting his teeth, he slammed its motion forward, releasing its energy, attempting to force the star directly at Lokki and catching the chain with his left hand on the rebound. The huge ball of youki shattered almost immediately into a thousand thin projectiles that hurdled everywhere. They seemed capable of changing direction weaving in and out of each other as they raced around and Inuyasha was forced to cover his face with the sleeve of his fire rat kimono, when he felt them come ripping at him slicing into his wrist and hand, aware that Atsuji was a victim of his own youki, snarling in pain as each shard of energy sliced into his unprotected flesh.

If they were hitting Atsuji, they could very well be hitting Rin as well, and in concern Inuyasha peered cautiously beneath his sleeve watching as some of the projectiles hurdled towards her and the Ijin. Fortunately the vortex seemed to slow them down, and diverted a good many of them away from her so only a few seemed to be reaching her. But even one was too many, Inuyasha thought vehemently.

“Dammit, Atsuji!” Inuyasha hissed, “are any of these things hitting the right target?”

“I dunno… can't see…” came the gurgled reply, as Atsuji went down to his knees, his hands in front of his face.

“You're a moron, you know that, right?” Inuyasha complained caustically, his hand still in front of his face to help buffer the pain as he grabbed the back of Atsuji's kimono and started dragging him backwards, trying to get him out of harm's way.

“Wait, Inuyasha,” Atsuji, forestalled him, as he took a peek between his arms not sure if what he was seeing was real. “l-look!” he cried tremulously.

Inuyasha paused and again peeked beneath the long drape of his sleeve, his eyes widening in incredulity. Atsuji had indeed actually hit what he was aiming for: Lokki was being bombarded by thousands of shards of light, his head thrown back as if he was wailing in pain, but no sound emerging as a darkness enveloped him so that he looked like nothing more than a shadow.

“What the!?” Inuyasha breathed slowly, bringing his arm down now that the youki was abating, as he observed the pulsating darkness that surged over Lokki's body, covering him entirely, save for the Tama that he held in his hand which glowed piercingly bright as if it was battling the darkness.

There was a sudden ringing noise that rose in pitch until it splintered into light, breaking free from the Tama and surging over Lokki's body with an incredible swiftness and blinding intensity that lasted only a brief second and then it was gone.

And so was he.

All that remained was the Tama and a shadow that dissipated as the Ijin rammed his hand through it.

“Is he dead?” Sango asked, confused as she watched from her vantage point at the well.

“No,” Shirogane murmured, stunned by what had just occurred, “-- Only transformed. His -- his body has become vaporized and his soul has migrated … I hadn't believed it possible…this is completely unexpected. The Kinmotsu no Tama has lost…”

 

“You didn't think I could do it, did you?” Atsuji mumbled in a slurred voice, swaying to and fro, his face and body bleeding heavily. “Who's the moron now?” he demanded and Inuyasha watched him go crashing to the ground, losing consciousness from the battering he took from his own attack.

“You are,” Inuyasha replied, a sardonic twist to his lips. Hurriedly he sheathed Tetsusaiga and reached down, once again grabbing Atsuji by the scruff of his kimono and dragging him safely outside of the reach of the Ijin. He was still breathing. That was a good sign, Inuyasha observed dryly before he headed towards the Tama glowing brightly in the grass only to pull back when he heard Shirogane calling his name once again.

“Don't pick it up!” he cautioned. “Or you will succumb to its power the same as Lokki!”

Casting a quick look at the Ijin and then at Rin who was splattered in blood, thanks to Atsuji, Inuyasha trotted over to where Shirogane stood, propping his hip stiffly against the well, blood oozing slowly down his leg, his face a ghastly pasty color.

“You wanna tell me what the hell just happened out there,” Inuyasha demanded, looking coldly at the silver-headed priest.

“Looks like you won, Inuyasha,” came the oblique reply, “but only for the moment. The Kinmotsu no Tama was trying to completely possess Lokki, only…” Shirogane trailed of losing himself in his own musings.

“Only what, shinkan **?” Inuyasha prodded impatiently.

Shirogane's eyes shifted to stare directly into those shaped so like his own. “Only it lost; for what reason, I can't tell you, Inuyasha. For five hundred years our family has kept watch over the Forbidden Soul, keeping it safely encompassed behind a barrier where it could not be corrupted and could corrupt none that came into contact with it. Until today, we have fulfilled that task flawlessly… so this is a first for us as well. All I know is that the energy of the Tama combined with that youkai's weapon acted as a catalyst and allowed Lokki to throw off the possessing power of the Kinmotsu no Tama.”

Inuyasha blinked disbelievingly at Shirogane as he digested everything he'd said.

“So, where did he go then?” Inuyasha asked, lifting an eyebrow.

Shirogane shrugged. “You saw as well as I did everything that happened, so your guess is as good as mine.”

“Gah!” Inuyasha snorted, turning impatiently and stalking a few feet away, staring at the Tama, the Ijin and Rin, who remained trapped between the conflicting forces.

“So you're saying he could still be out there somewhere?” Inuyasha waited for Shirogane's affirmation before he added, “Then my guess is because he's had a taste of all that power, he'll come back wanting more.”

“Well, that's partially true - and then there's the fact that he's assimilated some of the power of the Tama. So he has an imcomplete conscience that he's carrying around inside his head - apart from his own, that is.” Shirogane remarked.

“Fabulous,” Inuyasha muttered sourly.

“So how do we get the energy back into the Tama?” Sango asked in concern.

“Well I think the answer to that question lies in the defeat of Lokki,” Shiro replied slowly.

“But a bloodless defeat, right?” Inuyasha retorted acrimoniously rolling his eyes, “like that's gonna happen.”

“We'll have to find a way to make it happen, Inuyasha,” Shirogane replied sternly, a thread of something Inuyasha couldn't quite define running through his voice as he added, “not everything can be won by brute force.”

Inuyasha's head jerked around at that and he gave Shirogane a sharp look before his gaze slid to Kagome. His actions were not lost on Shiro who smiled knowingly as Inuyasha scowled and looked away, back towards the glowing jewel in the grass.

“Well what do you suggest we do with that?” He gestured to the Kinmotsu no Tama that still lay undisturbed, glowing eerily, the inside roiling with color. “You won't let me pick it up, but someone needs to,” he remarked crossly, “and you're in no condition to do it.”

“I will do it,” Sango volunteered, moving forward.

“No,” Shirogane objected, reaching out to stop her and wincing in pain from the sudden movement. “The Kinmotsu no Tama is not like the Shikon no Tama. It was not born from the heart of a miko. There is nothing but pure evil at its core, and it has been bathed in corruption since it has left my family's shrine. Until it can be purified, and constrained, none can touch it but those who have been trained to deal with its insidious intent to mislead and possess.”

“I will do it,” Yukino volunteered tremulously, rising to her feet from where she rested next to Shippou and Kagome. She turned her wide blue eyes to Inuyasha, meeting his dark, penetrating gaze bravely, only faltering when he tilted his eyebrows at her torn lip, his eyes staring pointedly at the bruises he could see on her legs and the ragged condition of her uniform.

“You can barely stand,” he criticized with a slight curl to his lip. “Do you really think I want to be dragging your lifeless corpse back here to your brother when that Ijin,” Inuyasha paused and pointed at the demonic creature that still railed furiously, its movements aimless since it no longer had a human target. “-- when that Ijin smashes your head into the ground?!”

“I'll do it,” Shirogane spoke up grimly, ignoring his sister when she turned and gave him an alarmed look.

“No, onii-chan!! You can barely stand!” she fretted, and then she turned pleading eyes to Inuyasha. “Please, don't let him go! He can't move well enough to get out of the way should that thing attack! I should be the one to go! I'm the one whose duty it is to purify the Tama! It is only logical that I be the one to go!!” She argued desperately but no one seemed to be listening to her.

“What if we use Kirara, Inuyasha?” Sango suggested, “she can carry Shirogane close enough to get the Tama.”

Inuyasha considered it for a moment.

“It might work if you and I can draw it from the ground and Suzu can keep it busy from the air as well.” And then he looked around at the trees. “Suzu!” he called and heard her resounding laughter bounce back at him as she fluttered towards him from out of the forest, landing on his shoulder. “You're the only one who had sense enough to stay put this entire time,” he muttered, offering a soft stroke to her feathered breast as she nibbled on his ear. “Shippou, give me some mushrooms.” Inuyasha held his hands out and Shippou dug around in his pockets.

The minute he had them in his hands, Suzu's feet began to work on his shoulder and she anxiously cried, “Ha, ha, ha, ha!”

Inuyasha gave her one and then pointed to the Ijin. “I need you to transform and show him your cutting scythes. If you do, I'll give you all of these.” He showed her the pile he held cupped between his palms and she danced happily on his shoulder. “But you only get them if you come back safely, Suzu, so you can't get too close to him or you'll get burned. Do you understand?”

Whether she understood or not, Suzu was ready to go. She'd already left his shoulder, transformed and was eagerly winging her way towards the Ijin.

“Wait!” Inuyasha called, thrusting the mushrooms at Shippou and running after her, as she circled back, chattering at him in what appeared to be impatience. Inuyasha turned to the others, watching a little dubiously as Kirara sidled over Shirogane's pain stiffened frame. “Do you think you can do this, or should we substitute your sister instead?”

Shirogane ignored Inuyasha's question, and straddled Kirara, his jaw clamped tight as he fought the pain that was spreading from his thigh and into his hip and wrapping around to his buttock. “I need my staff for leverage,” was all he said. “It's at the bottom of the well. I couldn't carry it up along with Kagome.”

Seeing Inuyasha's thinly veiled impatience, Sango quickly volunteered, “I'll get it,” and agilely jumped to the bottom of the well.

“Hurry up,” Inuyasha called brusquely down to her before turning on his heel and moving away, “I don't want to make Rin wait any longer than necessary.”

Once Shirogane had his bo, he balanced it across his lap, before asking to borrow Sango's scarlet sash. Wrapping it securely around his hand, he gave a nod and now they were ready. Sango picked up her Hiraikotsu and together the small group moved as one, warily approaching the Ijin and the weary figure of Rin.

Left behind, Yukino knelt beside Kagome, her fingers pulling at the grass around her knees, as she waited tensely for her brother to reach the point when he would be within reach of the Ijin. Suddenly she felt a small warm hand touch her arm and she looked down to see Shippou staring earnestly up at her, a reassuring smile affixed to his cherubic countenance.

“Don't worry,” he said with a pat, “I know he doesn't look like much right now,” he paused and cast a sideways glance at the raven haired man in the red kimono, “and I know he looks like he could get smooshed faster than you can say, O su wa ri! But deep down, Inuyasha's really, really strong. And he's been fighting demons for a long time!”

Shippou nodded encouragingly, his little face glowing, and Yukino tried to take what he said to heart, but there was something about the word “smooshed” that made her insides congeal.

“You must be a great friend of Kagome's to have brought her back here,” he noted, turning around and plopping down beside Kagome, smoothing the hair away from the gash at her temple in concern, noting in relief that even though the wound was thick with blood, the bleeding had, for the most part, stopped.

“W-well,” Yukino hedged, feeling uncomfortable with the word `friend'. Friendly would not be a word she would use to describe how she'd treated Kagome - she couldn't even say she'd been cordial, and yet Kagome had risked everything for her. It made her feel wretched. “We didn't actually come here on purpose, Shippou - it was Lokki and the Kinmotsu no Tama that brought us here.”

“It's been s-o-o-o-o -o long since I've seen her. I've really missed her! I hope she'll stay this time,” he fretted, and then he turned his limpid green eyes to her and implored, “do you think you can help me to talk her into staying? Please?”

“I don't know that I'm exactly the right person to be asking,” Yukino mumbled uncertainly and then quickly drew in her breath when she saw her brother almost fall from Kirara as the Ijin lashed out at him.

“Oh no!” she cried, hiding her face in her hands, and then peeking through the cracks of her fingers.

Fortunately Sango and Inuyasha were there to rush in to draw the phantom's focus and he took several lumbering swings at them, giving Shirogane a chance to recover. After that, there were no more close calls and it was over very quickly. Suzu positioned herself in just the right spot and her wind attacks did a superb job of attracting the spirit's attention long enough for Kirara to pause and Shirogane to reach down for the Forbidden Soul. Then Kirara took to the air, flying back towards the well.

The moment his fingers wrapped around the Tama, Shirogane experienced an unpleasant jolt of awareness. The whispers; they were there, but they were not focused on him. They were seeking themselves - their other half. Closing his mind to their probing, Shirogane pulled out an ofuda talisman from the coat pocket where he always carried them. Then unwinding Sango's sash from around his hand, he whispered an incantation, wrapping the talisman and the jewel together inside the sash, creating a seal that served as a makeshift barrier. The Soul still needed to be purified, but it would do to keep the Shikon no Tama from reacting with it until the purification ritual could take place.

Slowly the turbulent wind and the Ijin faded, and Rin, finally free, dropped weakly to her knees as Inuyasha and Sango raced towards her.

Her face felt funny, she thought; stinging and wet, and her body felt heavy too. But overall she was just thankful to have survived. She lifted a shaking hand and wiped at the droplets she felt clinging to her cheeks, her fingers coming away bloodstained.

“Rin!” Inuyasha called.

She raised a grateful smile to him as he reached her side with Sango lagging behind.

“What are you smiling at?” he asked, startled.

“Thank you, Inuyasha. I knew you'd save me…” she paused and gave him a searching look. “You weren't actually worried, were you!” she teased weakly with familial affection and watched the color fill his face.

“Of course not” he declared, thrown off balance by her unexpected levity, unaware that Sango who was standing behind him had rolled her eyes. “I knew we'd get you out safe and sound.” He reached down and gently helped her to her feet, grimacing at the scratches on her face and the small rips and blood stains on the sleeves and bodice of her kimono. “Are you all right?”

“I think so,” she replied cautiously, pushing back the thick voluminous fabric encasing her arm to examine it. It was littered with long bloody looking scratches. Up until now, everything except her face had felt pretty numb, but she knew from the way her chest and legs were beginning to sting that they were probably covered in scratches as well. “Nothing too serious,” she replied easily. “Something I can probably fix on my own without Kaede-bachan's help, even!”

“Hurray for you,” Inuyasha replied without any real enthusiasm, and then surprised her into silence by adding the backhanded compliment, “Hardly a challenge for one of the best mikos I know.”

Turning on his heel, Inuyasha strode away from her, past Sango, and grabbed hold of the still supine Atsuji. He began dragging him back towards the well, as he threw over his shoulder, “We should get back to the village then so we can let you practice your skills on those that offer a better challenge - like this poor excuse for a youkai.” Inuyasha made a disgusted gestured down at Atsuji's slack face. “I predict he's going to kill himself with his own weapon one day. He's lucky that it wasn't today.”

“Poor thing,” Rin murmured as she and Sango kept pace behind him.

Inuyasha grunted noncommittally but didn't reply. His eyes were fixed on Kagome and Shirogane and Inuyasha couldn't walk fast enough to get to where they were. Running was out of the question. Not with that silver-headed Shirogane leaning against the well there next to her, Inuyasha reflected darkly. He had gotten there first thanks to Kirara, damn him!

What was he to her anyway? Inuyasha wondered grumpily,

And why the hell does he look so much like me?

All those questions that had been bubbling in the back of his brain since he'd seen Kagome and these strangers emerge from the well came to the fore. He would wait until they got back to the village and had had a chance to rest before he tried to find some answers. But first, getting there might be a little more difficult that he'd anticipated.

“I said I will carry her!” he glared defiantly as he scooped Kagome off the ground, trying hard to keep the color of his face from matching that of his kimono.

“But it's a long walk back, Inuyasha, and you've had a rough night,” Sango contended, trying to make him see reason. “Shippou is taking Atsuji, so let Shirogane steady her in front of him on Kirara.”

Hell no!´ Inuyasha thought mulishly. That was the same thing as letting him embrace her, and he'd rather die before he had to sit there and watch that all the way back to town!

“I said I would carry her, and I will carry her,” he reiterated through gritted teeth, wondering in some vacant part of his brain when she had gotten so heavy.

In reality it was not her body that had gotten heavier, but his muscles that had gotten weak. The battle with Lokki had been extremely fatiguing, more so than he first realized, he mused with chagrin now that he stood here bearing Kagome's weight.

“It's all right, Sango,” Shirogane murmured with a detached wave, “leave him be. He's obviously not thinking of Kagome at all, only of himself.”

Inuyasha's back stiffened at those words and he felt his ire begin to build.

“I guess it hasn't occurred to him that Kirara can take us by air back to the village much faster than it will take to get there on foot. By the time he arrives, Kaede-sama could have already attended to Kagome's wounds - but, if he wants to carry her, let him carry her.”

“Fine, we'll do it your way,” Inuyasha muttered ungraciously, stomping forward, a fire banked in his eyes as he gently placed Kagome in front of Shirogane.

Shirogane immediately wrapped his arms around Kagome to keep her in place, her head falling back against his shoulder, and Inuyasha's jaw tightened, but there was little he could about the situation. It wasn't as if Kagome could help the position she was in anyway, he forcibly reminded himself. As he prepared to step back he turned his head, and saw the slight smile that curved Shirogane's lips and realized immediately that even though this man appeared to be an ally when it came to fighting demons, he was an extremely dangerous enemy where Kagome was concerned.

“Inuyasha,” came a hesitant voice from behind him and he turned, slightly disconcerted to see Yukino standing there. “Could you lend me your arm on the way back?” she asked haltingly, averting her gaze from her brother, when she felt his thoughtful gaze rest lingeringly on her.

“Yuki,” her brother called, beginning to rise painfully from Kirara, “you take my place, and ride with Kagome. You've been through enough today.”

“No, onii-chan,” she replied woodenly, turning her shoulder to him, “you are the one that needs to ride. Your wound is much more serious than mine, and I don't have the strength to keep Kagome from falling. As long as I can have Inuyasha's shoulder to lean on, I will be fine.” She raised her questioning gaze to Inuyasha who was not looking at her, but at her brother.

He was surprised by the anger that flashed in Shirogane's eyes, wondering why it would be there. But he didn't care. Let him be angry, he thought with savage satisfaction that bordered on a kind of revenge. This was for his sister's benefit.

“Aye, I will help you,” Inuyasha finally replied amiably enough, adding, “and maybe you can tell me on the way back how it is you came to know my name.”

Yukino's eyes widened imperceptibly and she cast a sideway glance at her brother seeking help, but he just shook his head in warning.

“Oh, well, that -- yes, well… that,” Yukino stuttered, while Inuyasha waited less than patiently, “Maybe Kagome might have mentioned your name…?” she finished lamely.

Inuyasha's strange look and the looks on the rest of Kagome's friends' faces clearly told Yukino that her lie wasn't going to wash with them.

“Let it go for now, Inuyasha,” Sango suggested softly, and Inuyasha gave a curt nod but looked over at Shirogane expectantly.

Shirogane met his gaze steadily and avoided the subject completely by saying, “I will see you back at the village.”

The small smile of encouragement he gave to his sister was met with a dull stare before Kirara took to the air, bearing them off into the night and as they faded into the dark skies Inuyasha muttered sourly, “Your brother is an ass.”

Yukino felt her cheeks flush in anger. How dare he insult onii-chan! she fumed indignantly.

“It's a trait that's been inherited from his bloodline for many generations, apparently.” Yukino's response was a little too implicit for safety's sake, but she was too incensed at that moment to care. However, she knew it had been a mistake to say it when Inuyasha's arm tensed beneath her fingers as they began the long, arduous journey back to the village.

 

NOTE:

Shinkan -- is a term used to refer to a Shinto priest (Houshi is for Buddhist priests)

Choku-to - straight edge sword that is shorter than a katana, predating 1596 and often prefferd over the katana because of the faster draw speed (because of it's length and lack of curvature)

Lokki -- pronunciation: LŠkē / Low key

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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