InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Price of Freedom ❯ Six ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Inuyasha was at it for several hours now and weariness had begun to slip over him. The sky had begun to darken, although sunset was still hours away. He realized with a grunt of frustration that he had lost the scent trail again. The damn wolves had built their stronghold upwind, which made it harder for them to be tracked.

He was more worried than he would ever admit out loud, and that simple thought made him even more aggravated. Inuyasha reasoned that it was his fault that Kagome got kidnapped in the first place because of his bad blood with the wolves.

His expression closed off as he shuddered to think what could happen to her if he didn't get there soon. Inuyasha knew from personal experience what Koga and his kin were like, and the mangy wolf was not known for showing sympathy or compassion towards humans.

If his brother could see him now, chasing after a human wench like a whipped dog, Inuyasha would be humiliated beyond words. He could just picture the haughty asshole bearing down on him while scornfully questioning if it was truly their late fathers blood coursing through his veins. Inuyasha sneered and cast the mental image of his brother out of his head. Damn him to hell. Hold on, I'm coming Kagome.

Inuyasha had been so busy sniffing at the ground that he almost missed the sound of horses approaching in the distance. Shit, they're coming this way. He tensed before making a split decision and launched himself up in the safety of the trees as a band of samurai approached with torches to guide their way through the wilds.

He wouldn't have paid them any mind until he noticed that there were demons amongst the human warriors bound by ropes and he knew enough of the battlefield to identify that they were prisoners of war. Those wolves are from Koga's clan. Inuyasha's eyes widened in recognition as his attention snapped to the human lord leading the group of men and he narrowed his eyes in instant dislike.

"This is becoming a thorn in my side." Lord Kagewaki sighed to himself as he sat upon his horse while his men busied themselves with securing their camp for the evening.

He was studying a set of scrolls as something caught his eye, and he glanced up in the treetops with the odd sensation that he was being watched. He dismissed his paranoia as his weariness catching up with him and his waning patience.

"Monk." He snapped his fingers and a young man in heavy purple robes silently made his way to Kagewaki's side. The monk was the fifth replacement in the lords shrinking counsel, and his fingers itched for his sword as he thought about the many incompetent priest his campaign had lost and all the lies.

"Yes, my Lord?" The young monk bore a genial charming smile that opposed the grimness darkening the depths of his eyes.

"I've been following your advice since we set out for these miserable wastelands. The wolves proved more of a nuisance than they were worth and after taking a risk I still have nothing to show for my efforts. How is it that we still have not found the jewel?"

Kagewaki lowered his brows, and while he didn't raise his voice, his menacing tone was taut with his frustration. There had been whispers that the young lord had gone mad, as his curiosity slowly turned into an obsession. But deep down, Kagewaki knew that he would be the one who possessed the jewel and possess the ultimate power to do as he pleased.

"According to legend," The young monk began in clipped tone he always used when delivering facts from his teachings "it has been said that the relic was last seen in a cavernous region. There is still Mount Muro, where heretics claimed that the relic has been buried with monk Kakuken. He was rumored to be a bodhisattva and the site is heavily protected by priests. Then there is an old wife's tale that has been passed down for generations. At the Taijiya village , legend says that the jewel is still crystallized within the remains of Lady Midoriko."

Kagewaki didn't respond right away and he appeared deep in thought. He had been searching for the relic for past several years and had even begin to convince some powerful clans that such a power existed.

There was too much at stake for him to turn back and he was prepared to risk it all as he set his eyes on the prospect of becoming ruler in the new world order. He cast a side eye at the wolves, as he realized that the idiotic wolf lord had been telling the truth. Torturing them for information about the relics whereabouts would prove futile.

"Very good Miroku. You are more useful than your father, and your grandfather before you." Kagewaki tied the scrolls and tucked them in his sleeves, and he missed the storm that passed across the young monks face as he clenched his fist.

"We will move out first thing in the morning to the Taijiya village and I want a full-scale diversion." Kagewaki ordered stoically, while inside him he felt a spark of pleasure.

"And I suppose we won't be needing you anymore, kill them." Kagewaki addressed his captives, and pointed to Miroku with a nasty smile as he retreated to his tent for the evening.

He would realize much late that that which he was seeking, was closer than he could possibly imagine.

Inuyasha heard enough. He closed his eyes, flattening his ears to block out the muffled screams of the wolves and bounded through the wilderness. His instincts told him that what he witnessed was important, but he didn't know enough to unload the unsettling feeling in his gut. The bastard is looking for something and it must mean something if he attacked the wolves for it.

Suddenly, he came to a halt as the wind bought a familiar scent. Kagome's blood. There was no way that he could mistake that smell, her blood tinged with fear. His eyes widened as spotted an outcropping of boulders that led to some rocky hills and his heart constricted in its cage. Damn it all, am I too late? The woman's face flashed in his mind, as an unnameable fear filled him.

Tessaiga thrummed in its scarab, and he finally understood what the fang had been trying to tell him. Somehow the image gave him courage and he leapt up to the rocky peaks and broke out in a dead run towards the wolves' stronghold.

Inuyasha saw on the horizon a flock of grey ugly birds, and he wrinkled his nose in disgust as he recognized the familiar stench. Birds of Paradise? What are those ugly shits doing here?

They were a pain in the ass, and were warring with the wolf demon tribe for the last several years. Feh, Myouga was right after all. I gotta give the parasite some credit. They were stupid creatures and were prone to follow their baser instincts and were not open to reason. He growled menacingly and doubled his speed. Why are they attacking the wolves' stronghold now? Could something have provoked an attack?

His thoughts raced, as he got a hold on Kagome's scent and it was the only thing that he could focus on.

"Bingo." He smiled without humor as he raced towards swarm of yokai, hoping by the gods that the woman was alright.

The wolves were preparing for battle as a formidable wind blew from the east. They looked uneasy as the sky darkened with more and more birds of paradise. They knew that at half strength, that they were outnumbered and clearly at a disadvantage.

Koga addressed his best men in hushed tones as he was boosting the moral of his battle worn and fatigued people. While he warred with his instincts, he knew that he would rather die fighting than with his tail tucked between his legs.

"Now, men!" He began. "This is no time for pussy footing. I will try to clear a path, and I want about half a dozen of you to come along with me. The rest of you will focus on making the woman, children, and elderly are completely evacuated." Koga finished and raised goraishi, as the clawed weapon glinted in the dying sun, his men loudly cheered as he hoped that he could hold them together long enough to execute his plan.

Inuyasha launched himself on the other side of the cliff so that he was opposite of the wolves' den. He rolled his shoulders, trying to alleviate some of the tension as he observed the unfolding situation. Stupid wolves. Serves the bastards right for refusing to uphold the pact.

He smirked and resolved to get Kagome and get the hell out of there before shit hit the fan. He easily spotted Kouga, on the other side of the cliff looking pensive with a small handful of warriors squaring off to launch an attack. What are the ugly shits waiting for? The birds are clearly at the advantage.

His eyes flickered over the varying wolf demons until he found what he was looking for. His nose found her before he saw her. She smelled of sweat and exhaustion, musk and wildflowers. She still vaguely smelled of the ocean and his eyes closed as he reveled in the smell of her alive.

Inuyasha froze when he smelt the wolf on her skin and he momentarily saw red as his blood ignited. That fucker tried to force her. He cursed as the stink of the wolf arousal and Kagome's fear nearly overwhelmed her subtle floral aroma, and a spark of possessiveness caused him to grind his teeth.

He saw the dark-haired woman from a distance from on the battlefield whispering with a red headed demoness with pigtails and he allowed his anger to drive him as leapt the distance much to the surprise and shock of the wolves who begin growling in warning.

"Kagome!" He bellowed as he landed with a soft thud in front of her. He wasn't expecting the woman to fling herself at him nearly toppling him over as he steadied her. She clutched the front of his robe and he felt her tears wet his neck as he wrapped his arms around her more securely. Inuyasha stared down at her dark head with equal parts of relief and confusion as he awkwardly rubbed her back.

"Kagome?" He asked in a much gentler voice as she looked up for a moment and he was caught off guard by her mysterious grey eyes misting over in an expression that he had never seen on her before. She graced him with a blinding smile, and he felt his heart slowly speed up in his chest.

"Thank the gods. I was worried that I would never see you again. I knew that you would come for me." She leaned her forehead on his chest, and he was content to hold her as he forcibly shut off the scathing voice inside of his head. Inuyasha took a deep breath of her scent and brushed his nose against her hair.

"Stupid. Did you really think I would leave you in the hands of that fleabag?" His words lacked venom and she laughed, equal parts relieved and confused. She had wanted to see him, but a smaller her part of her heart had wished that he had stayed away. Kagome tried to stave off the melancholic turn of her thoughts as a faint flush rose on her checks as she allowed him to hold her.

"I knew you would come. I was afraid." She admitted in a much smaller voice and he felt the familiar spark of anger return full force.

"I'm going to kill that fucking asshole." He promised darkly as she let go of his robe and considered his scowling profile with genuine worry and relief. A wry smile twisted on her lips as he brandished tessaiga, and his ears flickered at Kagome's suppressed giggles.

"What's so funny?" He frowned as another wave of giggles escaped, and he rose a dark eyebrow in confusion, she didn't get to finish that thought as something hard barreled into his chest.

"Hey, dogshit, what the hell do you think you're doing with my woman?" The idiot wolf had finally tore his eyes away from the flock of birds, and had delivered a swift kick in the half demon lords chest.

Inuyasha quickly got to his feet and felt his jaw spasm.

"You have a lot of nerve." The half demon began in a deathly quiet tone. "I think I've had it up to here with your shit, wolf." He raised tessaiga and was ready to wind scar the mangy wolf out of his miserable existence when Kagome intervened.

"Inuyasha wait." He felt Kagome's hand over his wrist, and he huffed in annoyance. He didn't like the flash of determination hardening her gaze. He frowned at her, as she silently pleaded with him and after a pause he felt a spike in his temper and kept a grip on his blade.

"Please don't hurt him." He wasn't expecting that, and a ferocious growl ripped from his throat.

"What the fuck? Have you lost your mind? This fucker kidnapped you, nearly violated you and you're asking me not to hurt him!" He exploded, and she flinched but she drew closer to him and gripped his wrist in her clammy hand.

She was pleading, and she searched his angry golden eyes, feeling his concern and indignation on her behalf. Deep down, she was happy that he had cared for and was incensed at what had been done to her.

"I know! I'm not pardoning him for his actions because what he did was unforgivable." She averted her gaze, and tucked a stray hair behind her ear as she relived the moment and felt shame. "But I promised a friend that I would help, and I can't go back on my word. Please don't be mad."

He tore his eyes away from her face as he had to forcibly tell himself that she wasn't choosing the wolf over him. Inuyasha exhaled slowly as he tried to cool his anger. He knew he couldn't leave her during a battle that wasn't even her own. Crazy wench.

"Fine. But if that bastard puts his hands on you again, I can't be held responsible for my actions." He finally gave in.

"Thank you" She offered in a quiet voice and she squeezed his palm to express her gratitude.

"Koga, we need you! They're breeching our defenses." The wolf's smug look was replaced with concern as he regarded the ugly situation unfolding before his eyes.

Kagome grabbed the bow and arrow from where it was discarded, and Inuyasha shot her an incredulous expression. She ignored him and readied her first shot.

"Wench, you better explain yourself after all of this is over." She gave him a tight smile that did not quite reach her eyes and nodded, before she let a sacred arrow that filled the sky with bright pink light. Inuyasha sighed, and after some hesitation he joined her in battle.

Something was wrong. No matter how many birds of paradise they killed, their numbers were still overwhelming. A squad of birds landed on the hill side, engaging in close combat with wolf demons who gained an upper hand.

Kagome reached for an arrow, as a grey bird broke from its pack and trained red eyes on her filled with intense hunger. The demon was distinct because it had two riders instead of one.

"You priestess. You possess the shard of the sacred jewel. You reek of it." The demon rasped, and it lunged at her, intending to swallow her whole.

"Not a chance." She replied with more confidence than she felt.

She released her arrow with a soft grunt and it merely grazed the demon who charged at her at full speed. Oh no. She tried to run and duck for cover, before Inuyasha landed in front of her and slammed tessaiga in the ground, as five fingers of light engulfed the foul beast. She gave him a grateful smile, and he frowned at her empty quiver.

"Stay behind me." He ordered, as he sent another blast of energy towards a swarm of demons that was over powering the wolves. She nodded as he made quick work a large swathe of birds of paradise.

As the battle dragged on, Inuyasha noticed that the demons were beginning to change their tactics. He saw that they tried to draw him away to attack Kagome, who could only duck until someone would cover her. He gritted his teeth, and threw his robe over his head and she gave him a quizzical look before he sliced through the horde and unleashed another blast of yoki.

Why are they after her? He scowled, as he punched through a brave demon that tried to chomp down on his arm. It doesn't make any sense, but I'll get to the bottom of this if it's the last thing I do.

Between Inuyasha's might and Koga's speed, the battle slowly turned in the wolves' favor. The birds, realizing that they had lost their upper hand began to retreat.

Koga was badly wounded, but alive. The wolves lost a lot of men. Inuyasha struggled to find sympathy for the hardheaded demons, and only for the sake of Kagome did he keep his mouth shut. He flickered tessaiga free of harpy blood before sheathing the blade.

"Come on, we're leaving." Inuyasha planned to grab Kagome and go but when he turned around, he found her on the battlefield, tending to the wounded wolf demons. Inuyasha spat out a few choice words, but he slowly reeled in his temper when he smelled her tears.

She was bent over the unmoving body of the red-haired demoness. The wolf demon had been struck in battle, and Kagome held her head in her lap as she whispered encouragements.

"Come on Ayame, you can make it." She tore off half her robe and tried in vain to stop the demons wound from bleeding. Inuyasha could smell death on the body, as Kagome's soothing words fell on deaf ears.

"Kagome…" He tried to reach for her, but he was at loss for words. She pretended not to hear him as she continued her ministrations.

Inuyasha glanced skyward and decided to wait, until finally the woman began to sob brokenly as he could only watch helplessly as her dark head bowed over the cold wolf demons body.

It was sometime before he managed to reach her, and he carried her bridal style away from the wolves' stronghold.