InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The 2 Great Swords ❯ Sacrifice ( Chapter 34 )

“Here we are.” The group looked in awe at the giant arch of stone. It was decorated with every jewel known to man and demon alike and the sun glittered off it brilliantly. “Through here is the Valley of Light.”

 

Miroku turned to the sole survivor of the village. “We are in your debt my good man. If there is ever anything we can do for you, please ask.”

 

The man's nodded somberly. “Well then, let's go!” Inuyasha barked. “We have to make it through this cave as soon as possible.” With that he started off into the cave with everyone else following closely behind him.

 

The man watched them go with a smile on his face, but that disappeared as soon as they were out of sight. He felt evil in the air, evil that was rapidly closing in. He turned and began to walk towards the entrance of the village to await it.

 

 

The evil the man and Kagome had both sensed was rapidly approaching the village. It blew through the forest and into the plains before the village coming to a stop. “There it is.” Kouga grinned. “I'm almost there. Wait for me Kagome!” He was engulfed with purple light and shot forward, hitting speeds of unfathomable proportions.

 

 

The group moved through the tunnel at a brisk pace. The walls were lined with torches allowing for fast movement.

 

“Anyone else notice we seem to be going down?” Sango asked after a while.

 

“Yes, it seems almost as if we're descending into hell.” Miroku said. “Not quite the image that I'd associate with the blade of light.”

 

“Maybe it's like this to scare people off?” Shippo ventured. “It's sure giving me the creeps.”

 

The three chattered away while farther ahead Kagome was completely oblivious to everything around her. Inuyasha came up beside her after noticing she was shaking a bit, “Are you cold or something?”

 

Kagome shook her head. “No, it's not that.” She said and looked behind her. “I just have a bad feeling about this place.”

 

“What kind of feeling?” Inuyasha asked, his voice holding a very uncommon tinge of concern.

 

“I have a feeling that something bad is about to happen.” She said quietly.

 

Inuyasha snorted. “Yeah right. You're with me, nothing bad is going to happen to you or anyone else. So quit worrying so much.”

 

Kagome smiled but it quickly vanished, “But what if it Kouga is coming like you said he is, then what?” Kagome asked.

 

Inuyasha slammed his fist into his hand. “Then I finally send the wolf where he belongs.” He growled. Despite the situation, Kagome giggled at the bravado. “Hey, what are you laughing at?”

 

She shook her head, “Nothing, it's just I'm amazed that you can be so confident. And I guess I'm a little happy that you are.” At his raised eyebrow she continued. “I feel much more confident when you're saying stuff like that”

 

He looked away with a snort and a muttered comment about `emotional humans'. “Hey, what's that?” Shippo's voice sounded behind them.

 

 

The last man of the village stood at the gate and watched the malevolent ball of energy approach. “So… the evil sword has indeed surfaced again.” He whispered. It roared towards him, stopping suddenly a few meters before him.

 

“Hello, old man.” Kouga began. “Care to tell me if you've seen anyone named Kagome?”

 

The man looked him over. “Interesting, you still hold your will even under Muramasa's influence.” Kouga growled.

 

“Nothing controls me. Just answer the question.” He snarled placing his hand on his sword.

 

The man looked at the wolf demon calmly. “You are a fool. I can feel that it has been sealed but that will not last forever. Sooner or later the sword will break your control and you will be lost to it forever.” The man smiled. “Say, the next time you are severely wounded?”

 

He drew Muramasa and leveled it at the man's face. “Last chance bastard.” He growled. “Tell me what I want to know, or die!”

 

The man simply smiled, “The one you seek will lead to your end. That I guarantee.”

 

“Wrong move…” Kouga growled and prepared to charge. “DIE!!” There was a horrible flash of light and Kouga was suddenly on the opposite side of the villager. The man fell to his knees and slumped to the side, his smile eternal on his face.

 

Kouga sheathed the blade and sniffed the air. Catching `his woman's' scent, he took off in the direction of the cave at breakneck speed.

 

 

The group had come out into a giant cavern with a seemingly bottomless drop. The two ends of the cavern were joined by a barely stable stone path way, leading from one side to the other with a few twists in it.

 

“Wow. That's a long way down.” Shippo was the first to comment.

 

“Who knew such a thing existed,” Sango said looking over the edge. “It doesn't seem like there's anything down there.”

 

“I guess… we go that way.” Kagome ventured pointing at the stone path. “It's just too bad they didn't make it wider.”

 

“I have a feeling no one made it this way.” Miroku said. “Look at the way the path changes in width, I have a feeling this just happened. Although I can't imagine how…”

 

“Hey, what are you guys yakking about!?” Inuyasha called irritably from his place on the path. “Hurry the hell up!”

 

The group quickly followed him and they began to make their way over the path in single file. Inuyasha in front with Kagome, Sango and Miroku following. Shippo was on Miroku's shoulder.

 

Kagome was having trouble keeping at the other's pace. She felt terrible. `What's wrong with me? I keep feeling like there's something evil around here but I don't see anything' She looked around to clarify and in doing so missed a turn.

 

She gasped as she went over the edge, only to be grabbed by the wrist by Inuyasha. “Damn it girl, watch where you're going!” He said irritably and pulled her up.

 

Kagome opened her mouth to thank him but stopped short as her head turned sharply on a sudden impulse. “What now?” Inuyasha muttered looking where she was, eyes widening as he saw what she had sensed. “Shit, everyone drop!”

 

The group dropped to the ground as a gigantic ball of malevolent energy whizzed over their heads, slamming into a wall on the other side of the cavern and blowing apart the wall revealing daylight.

 

“How dare you touch my woman mutt!” Kouga roared as he stood sword drawn and fuming.

 

The group rose to their feet slowly. “It looks like Kouga's learned a new trick.” Sango muttered sarcastically and readied her weapon. Inuyasha grunted in agreement and drew his own sword

 

“Wait Inuyasha!” Miroku shouted and ran to get in front of him, taking the role of the sensible member. “You saw that attack too! We have to get out of here!”

 

Inuyasha glared at the monk but nevertheless he sheathed his sword. “Fine, we're at a disadvantage on this narrow path anyways.” He grumbled and the group began to flee along the winding bridge.

 

Kouga snarled and leapt, clearing half the cavern and landing just behind the retreating group. “I'm taking my woman back, now!”

 

Sango turned and released her boomerang which Kouga neatly ducked. “You're going to have to do better than that!” He taunted and charged.

 

Inuyasha leapt in between the group and Kouga and redrew his sword. “Run!” He roared before charging forward to intercept the wolf.

 

Miroku grimaced, “I don't like leaving him to fight alone, but we won't be able to help on such narrow ground.”

 

Sango nodded. “Right, come on let's go!” The four took off towards the end of the stone bridge.

 

As soon as their sword's met, Inuyasha was overcome with dark energy and had to leap back. `Shit! I can't even block his attacks without taking damage.' He thought looking at his now slightly purple arm.

 

Kouga laughed. “Face it, half-breed. You can't beat me.” He leapt forward swinging his blade.

 

Inuyasha sidestepped and met the strike with his blade. He cried out in pain as Muramasa's evil rushed through his sword and seared his arm. He leapt backwards to escape and looked at his arm.

 

It had darkened with the evil and it looked as though it had been poisoned. He growled low and looked back at his grinning opponent. “Ready to die yet?”

 

Inuyasha leveled his sword at him, “You're the one who's dead.” His eyes flashed quickly over to his friends to see that they had reached the other side. `Good. Now I've somehow got to beat this guy and get to them.'

 

Kouga smirked and held his sword up. “I'm sorry to say that whatever you're thinking won't work. Allow me to show you exactly what you're up against.” He said and held up his blade. Muramasa pulsed once…twice… and then erupted into purple flames.

 

Inuyasha's eyes went wide and he took a step back. “What in the hell?!” Kouga swung his sword and from it came a purple wind, scorching Inuyasha's body as it overcame him. It tore through him, feeling like it was destroying every bit of flesh he had.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kagome screamed as she watched him disappear in the vapor. As it dissipated, Inuyasha stood, his red robe all but gone and covered in welts. `Oh my god! He's killing him!'

 

“Miroku!” Sango shouted frantically. “Does Inuyasha have a chance?”

 

Miroku shook his head and shouted, “Inuyasha! Get over here! Quickly!”

 

Inuyasha looked in the direction of the shouting but it was useless. The mist had hurt his eyes and almost everything was a blur. He turned back to Kouga to see him walking toward him, sword raised.

 

Sensing the final blow, Inuyasha decided to move first. He rose to his feet and charged bringing his sword down on top of Kouga's head. There was a horrible crack as the two swords hit.

 

“No…” Inuyasha breathed as his sword, his father's heirloom, his link to his past, shattered into pieces.

 

“What happened?” Kagome asked the others frantically, “I can't see what happened!” She asked.

 

Shippo answered her, having the best eyesight of the four. “Inuyasha's sword is… broken.”

 

Kouga smirked as the bits of metal hit the floor ringing out through the cavern. “Too bad.” He said softly and then lashed out kicking the stunned Inuyasha hard in the face.

 

He flew backwards and hit the ground hard. Before he could recover Kouga leapt up and came down, plunging his knee into Inuyasha's ribs. He smirked at the sound of them breaking.

 

“Well, well… it looks like,” He raised his sword, “You'll be,” He angled it at Inuyasha's neck. “The first to die.”

 

A sharp whistling filled the air as a single arrow flew through the air, exploding in pure light. Kouga cried out in pain as it plunged into his right shoulder, going clean through. He looked over to see Kagome, bow drawn and another arrow ready.

 

She let another one fly, this one striking home in Kouga's left shoulder and knocking him off Inuyasha. “Ka…go…me.” Inuyasha breathed as he looked at her. His heart stopped at the sight.

 

Kagome stood there, bow raised and another arrow notched. But what got his attention the most, was her tearstained face. `She's…crying?' He thought. `For…me?'

 

Kouga stood up, twin arrows sticking out of his shoulders, dumbfounded. “Kagome? It's me? Why are you shooting at me?” His answer was another arrow tearing through his side, sending him careening towards the edge, coming to a stop just by it.

 

“Leave him alone you monster!” She screamed as she aimed another and let it fly. Kouga's eyes went wide at yet another accurate shot and rolled quickly out of the way. `I won't let him. Not Inuyasha too!' She thought as she grabbed her last arrow. The next one would have to finish it

 

Inuyasha grunted as he slowly pushed himself off the ground. `Damn it Kagome, he's not going to let you shoot at him forever. He slowly rose to his feet, his hand shooting out to his pained ribs and feeling something odd. `What the—' he reached into what was left of his robe and his eyes went wide.

 

Kouga growled. “You're not Kagome! Who the hell are you?!” He raised his sword arm and around his sword a purple ball of energy began to form. “Where is my Kagome!?” He roared as he unleashed it. In a panic, Kagome released her arrow.

 

The orb flew at an unfathomable speed engulfing the arrow as it went. Kagome stood still as it approached her and covered her face with a scream. It flew by and into the wall behind her. Surprised, she looked over at Kouga. “Inuyasha!” She screamed.

 

Moments before Kouga had released his attack; Inuyasha had grabbed him from behind and with renewed strength, managed to divert the attack. “Bastard let go of me!” Kouga growled as he attempted to move.

 

“Not a chance.” He wheezed as he held his opponent firm. “Miroku! Grab Kagome and run!” He screamed as loud as he could.

 

“What?” Miroku said. “What are you talking about?!” He yelled back. “What about you?!”

 

Inuyasha struggled to keep Kouga under control. “Damn it Miroku, just do it!” He roared. “Remember when we first met and do it!” A second later Kouga broke free and knocked Inuyasha to the ground.

 

Miroku's protests died on his tongue and his expression became grim. “Very well…” He said slowly before grabbing Kagome's arm. “Come on.”

 

Kagome pulled away. “What are you talking about?!” She screamed. “I can't just leave him when he's fighting!”

 

“What are you going to do?” He asked. “You're out of arrows and Sango and me can't do anything at this range. We'll just have to trust him.”

 

“But…” Miroku growled in annoyance and motioned to Sango.

 

“Miroku, you can't be serious.” Sango said in disbelief. “He's your friend.”

 

“It is exactly because I am his friend that I have to do this.” He said solemnly. “Now come on!”

 

Kouga rebounded quickly and pinned Inuyasha to the ground with his foot. “Bastard, are you that eager to die?” He growled and his sword erupted in flame again.

 

Inuyasha smirked despite the throbbing pain in numerous places. “Hey wolf breath, is that real fire?” he asked.

 

“Of course it is!” Kouga snarled. To emphasize his point his brought it to Inuyasha's face so he could feel the heat.

 

Inuyasha smiled as he reached into his robe. “Too bad.” He said as he pulled out a single object and held it up to the flames of Muramasa, grinning when it lit.

 

“What's he doing?” Sango asked. “He has something in his hand but I can't make out what it is.”

 

Shippo gasped as the colour drained from his face. “No! Inuyasha don't do it!” He screamed.

 

Kagome turned on a dime and spun to look at Shippo. “What?”

 

Shippo gulped and tears began to form in his eyes. “He's going to use my explosive!”

 

Kouga's eyes went wide as the little firebomb lit on his sword and he began to pull away, but Inuyasha quickly dug his claws into his arm, preventing escape. “You're crazy!” He screamed.

 

“I won't let you hurt anyone else anymore!” Inuyasha roared and with that shoved the lit explosive in Kouga's open mouth.

 

The small bomb went off in a brilliant ball of flame, engulfing both Inuyasha and Kouga. The cave began to collapse in on itself as Miroku quickly pulled the girls and Shippo out of the falling rubble. The only thing that could be heard over the deafening sound was Kagome screaming Inuyasha's name.