InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Miko Bride ❯ The Miko Bride-The Duel ( Chapter 3 )

(The boat at dawn. The second ship is nearly on top of them. We see for the first time that it is piloted by a solitary, masked Man in Red.)

Sesshomaru: He's right on top of us! I wonder if he's using the same wind we are using?

Kikyo: He's too late! Look! The Cliffs of Insanity!

(The camera pans out. The cliffs are massive, seeming to stretch into the heavens themselves. The sailboats enter into a wild race to get there first.)

Kikyo: Pull that thing! No, the other thing! Move it!

(They reach the cliffs. There's a sudden scream from up above, and Nobunaga comes plunging downward into the ocean beside them. The water turns red.)

Kikyo: …Well, despite that oddness, we're safe. Only Rouyakan is strong enough to go up our way. He'll have to sail for ours to find a harbor.

(Sesshomaru shoots a grappling hook up to the top of the cliff and attaches a harness to Rouyakan. Kagome, Kikyo, and Sess climb into the harness, and Rouyakan begins to haul them up the rope. The Man in Red reaches the cliff, and begins to climb after them. He's impossibly far behind, but he's moving like lightning.)

Sesshomaru: He's climbing the rope. And he's gaining on us.

Kikyo: Inconceivable!

(She prods Rouyakan with her foot, and he increases his pace. The camera pans out, and we see that Rouyakan's efforts aren't changing the situation much. The Man in Red is still climbing, cutting deeply into his lead.)

Kikyo: FASTER!

Rouyakan: I thought I was going faster.

Kikyo: You were supposed to be this colossus, this great, legendary thing, and yet he gains!

Rouyakan: I'm carrying three people. He's only got himself.

Kikyo: I do not brook excuses! I'll just have to find a new giant, that's all.

Rouyakan: Don't say that, Kikyo. Please.

Kikyo: Have I made it very clear that your job is at stake?

(After much struggling, Rouyakan hauls them all to the top. The Man in Red has only made it 2/3 of the way. Behind the four of them are the ruins of an ancient stone fort. Kikyo draws a small dirk, and slices through the rope. She rushes over to see the Man in Red fall. she is amazed to find him hanging on for dear life. Sesshomaru joins her.)

Sesshomaru: He has very good arms.

Kikyo: He didn't fall? Inconceivable!

Sesshomaru: You keep using that word, Kikyo. I do not think you mean what you think it means. (He glances down.) My god! He's climbing!

(Indeed he is, hand over hand, at an agonizingly slow pace. Kikyo snarls.)

Kikyo: Whoever in the Seven Hells he is, he has seen us with the princess, and must die. Rouyakan, take her and come with me. We'll head straight for the Guilder frontier. You, Sesshomaru, will stay here. If he falls, fine. If not, the sword.

Sesshomaru: I'm going to do him left handed.

Kikyo: You know what a hurry we're in!

Sesshomaru: It's the only way I can be satisfied. If I use my right-tch-over too quickly.

Kikyo: Fine, have it your way. Just KILL HIM!

(Sess nods. Rouyakan pauses to pat him on the shoulder.)

Rouyakan: You be careful, Sesshomaru. Men in masks are not to be trusted.

(Sess nod again. Rouyakan trots off after Kikyo. Once the two of them are out of sight, Sess draws his sword and practices a few fencing maneuvers. It is evident that he is very good. He glances down at the Man in Red. A fall is certain death, but neither seems to give the possibility much credence.)

Sesshomaru: Hello!

(The Man in Red grunts and continues climbing.)

Sesshomaru: Slow going?

Man in Red: Look, this really isn't as easy as it looks, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't distract me.

Sesshomaru: Sorry. Is there any chance you could speed things up?

Man in Red: If you're in such a hurry for me to get up there, you could lower a tree branch, or something equally useful.

(He grabs onto a vine, and barely catches himself as it pulls out.)

Sesshomaru: I could do that. In fact, I have some rope right here. However, I doubt you would accept my help, as I am merely waiting here to kill you.

Man in Red: (Sardonically.) Well, that does put a damper on our relationship.

Sesshomaru: However, I promise not to kill you until you reach the top.

Man in Red: Very reassuring. But I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.

Sesshomaru: I wait waiting. Can you think of any way you could trust me?

Man in Red: Nothing comes to mind.

Sesshomaru: Could I give you my word as a Youkai?

Man in Red: No good. I've known too many Youkai.

(Sesshomaru pauses, then raises one hand into the air and speaks with a reverent, fiery passion.)

Sesshomaru: I swear upon the soul of my late father, Inu-tisha, that you will reach the top alive.

Man in Red: Throw me the rope.

(Sess lowers a rope. The Man in Red pauses, perhaps saying a quick prayer, before grabbing hold and hanging on for dear life. With considerable effort, Sess hauls him up. The Man in Red starts to draw his sword, but Sess stops him.)

Sesshomaru: We will wait until you are ready.

Man in Red: Thank you.

(He sits, and begins to shake rocks out of his shoe.)

Sesshomaru: Pardon me, sir, but you wouldn't happen to have six fingers on your right hand, would you?

Man in Red: Do you always begin conversations this way?

Sesshomaru: My father was killed by a man with six fingers on his right hand.

(The Man in Red does not reply, merely holds up his hand, which has only five fingers.)

Sesshomaru: He was a great sword maker, Inu-tisha. He was more than willing to take up the challenge when the six-fingered man came to him asking for a custom blade. He slaved for a year and a day on it.

(He hands the Man in Red his sword.)

Man in Red: I have never seen its equal.

Sesshomaru: The six-fingered man returned and demanded the blade, but at one-tenth his promised price. My father refused. The six-fingered man did not reply, but drew a knife and slashed him through the heart. I loved my father, so, naturally, I challenged him to a duel. I failed. The six-fingered man left me alive with the sword…and these.

(He shows the Man in Red his scars.)

Man in Red: How old were you?

Sesshomaru: Barely eleven. When I was strong enough, I devoted myself to the study of fencing, so that next time we meet, I will not fail. I will walk up to the six-fingered man and say `Hello. My name is Sesshomaru. You killed my father. Prepare to die.'

Man in Red: You've done nothing but study swordplay?

Sesshomaru: More pursuit than study recently. I cannot find him. It has been twenty years, and I am starting to lose hope. I work for Kikyo to pay the bills-there is not much money in revenge.

(The Man in Red pauses, hands Sess his sword and stands.)

Man in Red: I certainly hope you find him some day.

Sesshomaru: You are ready, then?

Man in Red: Whether I am or not, you've been more than fair.

Sesshomaru: You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you.

Man in Red: You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die.

(They stand, and draw their swords. Both are fighting with their left hands. They lock eyes, warily circling each other. It is clear in that instant that both are masters. They stand several paces away from each other-no sword-crossing `en garde' garbage. They jab and feint, easily blocking the blows, merely meant to test the other. And suddenly they're going at it in earnest. Sesshomaru begins to back the Man in Red up a steep incline.)

Sesshomaru: I see you are using Bonetti's defense against me!

Man in Red: It seems only appropriate, given the rocky terrain.

Sesshomaru: Naturally, you expect me to attack with Capo Ferro…

Man in Red: Naturally. But I find Tybalt cancels out Capo Ferro.

(He leaps off the incline and swipes at Sesshomaru's legs. Sess stumbles, but regains his footing.)

Sesshomaru: True…unless the enemy has studied his Talon Blade…which I have.

(He tosses his sword upward into the air and flies at the Man in Red, swiping wildly with his claws. The Man in Red stumbles back, giving Sess time to catch his blade and swing it in a devastating arc that the Man in Red barely manages to parry. The battle rages on, and it becomes apparent that the two are equals. However, the Man in Red takes the upper hand, and begins to force Sess back to the cliffs. For some reason, the Youkai seems almost pleased.)

Sesshomaru: You are incredible!

Man in Red: Thank you. I've worked hard to become so.

Sesshomaru: I admit it; you are better than me.

Man in Red: Then why are you smiling?

Sesshomaru: Because I know something you do not know.

Man in Red: And that is?

Sesshomaru: I am not left-handed.

(He switches his blade to his right hand, and suddenly the course of battle changes. His blade is practically a blur as he forces the Man in Red to retreat. Desperate the Man in Red backs up a rocky staircase to escape Sesshomaru's furious blade. But Sess is right behind. The Man in Red throws out every feint, thrust, and trick he can think of, but to no avail.)

Man in Red: You're amazing!

Sesshomaru: I ought to be, after twenty years.

(The Man in Red is pinned against the edge of a crumbling stone pillar. It looks like he has two options: fall and drown, or be opened up by Sesshomaru's sword.)

Man in Red: There's something I should tell you.

Sesshomaru: What?

Man in Red: Sesshomaru, I am your brother!

Sesshomaru: Eh?

Man in Red: Sorry, wrong movie. What I meant to say is this: I am not left-handed either.

(He pushes Sess off of him and switches hands. Again the tide of battle shifts. Sess is being forced down the stairs, and despite his best efforts, his blade is knocked from his hands. He dives after it, grabbing a moss covered bar, and swinging to the ground, where he scrambles for his sword. The Man in Red casually tosses his sword to the ground, grabs the bar, spins all the way around it, and dismounts with a 9.7 backflip. Sesshomaru's eyes widen.)

Sesshomaru: Who are you?

Man in Red: No one of consequence.

Sesshomaru: I must know.

Man in Red: Get used to disappointment.

Sesshomaru: Okay.

(The battle is rejoined. Sess tries everything, but again, and a third time his blade is knocked from his hands. The truth dawns on him: he, Sesshomaru, Youkai of the Western Lands, is about to lose. He closes his eyes and falls to his knees.)

Sesshomaru: Kill me quickly.

Man in Red: I would as soon smash a stained glass window as an artist such as yourself. However, since I can't have you following me, either…

(He knocks Sess unconscious with the hilt of his sword.)

Man in Red: Please understand, I hold you in the highest respect.

(He dashes up the trail after Kikyo, Rouyakan, and Kagome.)