InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Soul Within ❯ To Fight ( Chapter 19 )

Quote of the Day: Nobody can drive you crazy unless you give them the keys.

 

A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews. I'm so lucky to have readers like you and I only hope that I can continue to entertain you. Please enjoy this chapter.

 

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The Soul Within

Chapter Nineteen

 

Miroku charged forward with his golden staff out like a spear. His opponent easily, and predictably, dodged it.

 

“For a human, your speed is impressive,” his foe said. “However, you are only a fraction as fast as I am!”

 

In less than a second, the owner of the voice was behind him. He drew back his arm and his fist smashed into Miroku's back, sending him flying across the room.

 

Miroku coughed harshly and a warm, sticky substance splattered his hand. It was difficult to see in the dim, torched light, but Miroku already had a pretty good idea of what it was.

 

This wasn't what he had expected. It was time to change tactics.

 

“You are youkai, are you not?” Miroku asked calmly.

 

“You couldn't already tell? I am starting to question your power, Monk.” The speaker moved forward enough for one of the torches to light up his features.

 

He had light purple skin that appeared to be as scaly as a lizard, hair that was either beige or filthy white, sharp claws on his fingers, and glowing red eyes. If it weren't for these distinct features, he could have been a 20-year-old human.

 

“What did you say your name was?” Miroku asked.

 

The youkai smirked. “I didn't, but I will tell you now. I am called Goshinki.”

 

“Goshinki…catchy.”

 

“Very, isn't it? But now is not the time to chat. I am needed elsewhere.” With that, Goshinki rushed forward.

 

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“Inu-Inuyasha!” Kagome gasped.

 

“Get out of here,” Inuyasha growled without taking his eyes off Naraku.

 

“Wh-What! No way! Who are you to tell me to - !”

 

“There's someone behind you.”

 

Kagome gasped, whirled around and set an arrow to her bow as quickly as lightning. She drew her arm back and -

 

“Kagome, wait!” the voice pleaded.

 

Kagome's heart nearly stopped. “…Father?”

 

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“Sacred sutras!” Miroku yelled as he threw some of the said weapon.

 

Goshinki dodged and came right back at the monk with his claws out. Miroku sidestepped his attack and thrusted his weapon into the youkai's side. Goshinki howled in pain as dark blood began to appear at the site of his wound.

 

Goshinki's eyes darkened. “You will pay dearly for that, monk.”

 

Miroku took his stance again and waited for his opponent's next move.

 

Goshinki shut his eyes and his body began to shake. To Miroku's astonishment, Goshinki's form began to change. He became taller, bulkier, and more like a stereotypical youkai. Piercing horns grew out of his head, and his figure resembled that of an ogre. He opened his eyes.

 

Miroku smirked. “The bigger you are, the easier that you'll be to hit.”

 

Goshinki smiled. “So you think. However, I have a very special ability when I am in this form.” He paused. “Right now, you are wondering where the woman, Sango, is. Correct?”

 

Miroku's eyes widened. How had he…?

 

“I can hear your every thought, your every plan, your every strategy. There is no getting away from me,” Goshinki said sadistically.

 

This isn't good…

 

“No, it isn't good at all,” Goshinki agreed.

 

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“Father, what are you doing here?” Kagome exclaimed.

 

“We've come to bring you back home, away from the evil youkai that has trapped you here!”

 

What are you - oh.” Kaede's words suddenly came back to her. The whole village thought that she was being held prisoner by an evil youkai.

 

“Father, you have it all wrong, I just - ”

 

“Kagome, get your old man away from here,” Inuyasha commanded.

 

Kagome whipped around to look at him. “But I can't just leave you here!” she insisted. “You're hum - ”

 

“I'll be fine,” he said sharply. “You don't need to worry about me!”

 

Naraku smirked. “It looks like poor little Kagome is concerned about your well-being,” he sneered. His eyes became as sharp as daggers and as cold as ice. “I'll kill you for taking Kagome away from her fiancé!”

 

With a roar, he sent several tentacles toward the youkai-turned-human. There were too many for you Inuyasha to counter. He leaped into the air and dove toward the youkai's center. Naraku hastily dodged and Inuyasha hit the ground, skidding into his fight stance.

 

“Don't worry about me, get going! There's no way I'll let myself be killed by this bastard,” Inuyasha vowed. “Worry about your wound.”

 

Kagome's heart warmed and she couldn't help but smile. She knew that Inuyasha's words were true. He was strong. No matter which form he was in, he was stronger than Naraku. Kagome trusted him…she trusted him more than she trusted herself. And he was right…when he showed up, she had forgotten about the nearly fatal wound. If she didn't heal it soon, she was a goner. Right now, however, her father was her priority.

 

Kagome nodded firmly. “Okay! I'll be right back!” She turned to her father. “Let's get you away from here.”

 

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Once more, Miroku tried to land a hit on Goshinki but the smirking youkai began his counter before Miroku's attack even began. There was no defeating him! Not unless…

 

Stay calm…empty your mind…don't think of anything…blankness…darkness…nothing…

 

Goshinki laughed out loud. “You aren't the first one to try that, monk. Unfortunately for you, the human mind is extremely complex. It has many layers, which keeps it from ever going completely blank. Even when you sleep, your mind is racing in the form of dream images. Even as you attempt to empty your mind, I can hear you strategizing. There is only one way for the mind to go completely blank.”

 

Miroku was listening, against his will. He tried harder… Absolute emptiness…nothing…calm…nothing… He took a slow deep breath.

 

“The only way for the mind to be blank…is through death!” Goshinki charged at Miroku.

 

The monk's eyes snapped open. Trying not to think, he swung his staff toward the youkai.”

 

Goshinki laughed and easily dodged. “It's useless! Give up! You can never - ” Goshinki's eyes widened and he leapt into the air, narrowly dodging a gigantic boomerang.

 

Miroku smiled. “Sango…”

 

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“Father, I need you to stay here. Stay here and do not move,” Kagome said seriously.

 

“But Kagome! Now is the perfect time to escape! Naraku is fighting to protect you! The youkai is nowhere in sight! We must move before he finds us!” her father said frantically.

 

Kagome shook her head. “Naraku has brainwashed the entire village…” she murmured softly before making her voice stronger. “I am not only completely safe, I'm happy. I'm actually happy! Can't you understand that? I have no intention of leaving, none! No one, not even you, will take me away from this place.” She looked into her father's eyes. Thee passion in her own was glowing like fire. “This, I promise you.”

 

A flicker of emotions crossed her father's features, before a light of understanding appeared in them. “You are in love with that boy…the one that saved you.”

 

“Wh-What!” Kagome said in shock. She blushed furiously. “Inuyasha?”

 

Her father smiled and nodded slightly. “Your soul is like your mother's…completely unguarded. It is displayed in your eyes for the world to see. You love him…”

 

“Father, I can't go back with you,” Kagome said firmly, deliberately changing the subject. “I am staying here.”

 

That seemed to snap him out of his little trance. “No! I cannot let you waste Naraku's efforts and the effort of the village! They are stationed on the boundaries of this land, waiting to take you home!” He grabbed her arm. “I will bring you home, Kagome!”

 

Kagome's eyes filled with regret. “Forgive me, Father.” Without warning, she gathered energy to her hand, balled her fingers into a fist, and thrust it into his abdomen. His eyes widened, then rolled back as he went limp. Kagome gently lowered him to the grassy floor. “Stay here and be safe, Father. Maybe when you wake up…maybe you'll understand. I hope you will,” she whispered. “But right now, Inuyasha needs my help!”

 

Shutting her eyes and gathering her energy, she worked to prevent her internally systems from suffering any longer. She was useless in a battle unless she could fight…she had been nearly dead when Inuyasha had shown up.

 

And yet…seeing him gave me the will to keep fighting…and not give up.

 

As soon as she could function without worrying about death showing up uninvited, she would return to Inuyasha. Together, they would defeat Naraku.

 

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“We need to hit him at the same time!” Miroku yelled. There was no point in signaling their moves to each other; Goshinki would just read their minds. Instead, Miroku and Sango yelled out their plans for all the land to hear.

 

“I know that! Getting him to stay in one place is the hard part!” Sango called back in frustration. How long had they been fighting Goshinki? She had no idea. All she knew was that he was the toughest opponent that she had ever faced. He seemed invincible!

 

Goshinki laughed. “You two are so amusing. I wish that I could fight with you longer, but to be honest, I should have killed you both by now. If I don't finish before Naraku gets Kagome, I won't be getting paid.” He made a face. “I can't have that now can I?” he explained reasonably.

 

It happened so suddenly. One second he was talking about their deaths in an almost amicable manner, and the next, Sango was grabbed by a clawed hand and being heaved across the room. She crashed against the wall and slumped to the floor. She didn't move.

 

“Sango!” Miroku yelled.

 

She didn't stir.

 

Miroku slowly shifted his eyes to Goshinki, who looked pleased with himself. “You…” Miroku said in voice that was absolutely murderous. “I'm going to kill you!”

 

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A/N: Did you know that I actually planed to finish both battle scenes this chapter? I must've been insane….it's way too much! I'm splitting it into two chapters. The next one should be out quickly since I already have a lot of it written. By the way, don't worry about Sango too much.