InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Under the Blood Red Sun ❯ Scents or sense? ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter 16: Scents or sense?

He woke early in the dawn like he normally did with one exception, he was drenched in blood and had around twenty to thirty deer carcasses spread around him in groups, some headless and others mauled. He threw up. He was sickened as he looked at the red brown blood that had dried on his claws and shredded shirt. He looked at the carcasses again. They were of stags, no does this time, he though with relief. His brother was going to throw a fit after the needless slaughter of how ever many deer were in this clearing, hell he didn’t even know where he was in his state of mind. Which put him at another unwanted place, who, if anybody did he come across in his bloodlust? The only way to find out is to follow the scent of blood.

He looked at the bodies and threw up again and again, forcing his empty stomach to dry heave. He turned and fled the clearing, running as fast as he could. He finally winded down at a small hut still in the middle of the forest, which he realized was the wolves domain. The building had the sharp unmistakable smell of blood around it. Fearful, he opened the door to the hut and went inside.

An old man was laying in a pool of his own blood, a woman her head severed and laying some distance away and a small child, half shredded with claws. He was breathing difficultly now, his breath ragged and hard as he backed out of the cottage, afraid he did this. No, he argued with himself, I did do it, who else would do such a thing. As if in answer a savage humanoid demon walked into the clearing dragging a dead body behind him. The beast stiffened and hissed. His scaly head drew back and his green lips peeled back in a feral snarl revealing rows of sharp pointed teeth. Behind him on the ground a thick scaly tail curled and twisted as the demon sized InuYasha up. It took the wrong idea and charged at him, fangs shown and a thick green ooze dripping off the largest ones. InuYasha sidestepped him and decapitated it. The creature fell to the floor writhing until it finally stopped moving. He touched the fang around his neck and suddenly wondered why he transformed if it was laying against him.

A loud howl brought him to his senses as a pack of small brown wolves came into the clearing. They barked and growled at him until InuYasha jumped up and out of the clearing heading towards his castle, away from the blood shed and gore that covered the ground behind him.

He jumped through his window and sat on the edge of the bed and ripped his clothes off with a hiss and growled as the scent of blood stayed on him. Huffing he raked his claws along the line of his wall above an older mark. His claws came to a stop in the stone and he passed out cold on the floor like before.

He awoke several times, once he dreamed of his brother and of Rin, he awoke again and sat up from his floor. He smelt a little of blood but it was nearly gone. He groaned as he stood and pulled a loose tunic over his head to replace the shredded one on the floor, he looked at the floor and was surprised to find it gone.

He washed his claws in a basin of cold water and went in search of his brother in his castle. He found him in the conference room with the unmistakable scent of wolf.

“What the hell is he doing here?” InuYasha growled as he barged into the room causing the occupants to jump, excluding his brother and the wolf.

“I invited Koga over to solve a small matter of finding the King’s murderer and his heiress.” Sesshomaru said coldly as the wolf smirked.

“Why is he in my castle?” he pointed at Koga firmly, the wolf demon grating on his frayed nerves.

“I told you, and no one would find me here. Why don’t you find your charges and take chare of them?” he said referring to Kagome and Shippo. “The little fox is with her.”

“her?” Koga’s ice blue eyes lit up.

“A woman he rescued from the harassed kingdom. Her name’s Kagome.” Sesshomaru said calmly.

“She is none of your business.” InuYasha snapped as he threw a glare at the two of them and stormed off.

“This shall be interesting.” his brother muttered as the door swung shut with a bang.

***Kagome***

She was gathering herbs for Kaede when she saw a flash of silver run by. Her first thought when it struck her was the Silver Fang was killing her then why aren’t I dead when she was flung over a shoulder. She turned her head slightly as the person ran on and saw the white ears and started to scream and kick.

“Put me down!” she shouted over the wind.

“Oi wench, I can hear you!” he shouted then he slid to a stop and dropped her.

“What were you thinking?” she said as she hit the ground hard.

“Look, no listen, a prince of the wolves is staying at my castle. He’s known to steal women and use them. I want you to stay away from him!” InuYasha growled. He paced the forest floor.

“Who?” Kagome asked.

“Koga. A stinking wolf demon.” InuYasha said as he seemed to bristle.

“I don’t stink half breed.” a male voice said huskily. “You do.”

Kagome turned to find herself face to face with a tall muscled man with coal black hair and ice blue eyes. He grinned showing his fangs. “You must be the maiden Kagome.” he said as he kissed her hand. InuYasha growled behind her.

“hello?” she said as she stepped back.

“I like her InuYasha. Woman, you’ll be my woman.” Koga stated as he lifted her up easily and took off in a hurry. Kagome screamed and thrashed in his grip.

“Give her back!” InuYasha barked from behind but he was quickly losing speed. Soon the wolf lost him and stopped at the front of the castle.

“hello, so what do you think of my speed?” he asked, a hand closed around her wrist.

“Let go.” she said as she pulled hard against him.

“No, I claimed you, your mine.” he said as his eyes hardened. “Demons mate for life.” and grinned, “and wolves can take unwilling ones.”

“You will do no such thing!” Kagome said as she slapped him across the face. Koga smirked and grabbed her hand around the wrist.

“I like my women fiery.” he looked around then sniffed the air, “And unlike half breed’s parents I’ll make sure you never bear a dirty half blood.”

InuYasha jumped into the clearing as he said the last few words with a snarl. “Give her back!” he growled as he flexed his claws.

“Make me, mutt.” Koga snarled back, thrusting Kagome behind him. InuYasha snarled and stepped forward.

“I’ll kill you.” InuYasha barked as he jumped at Koga. Koga pushed Kagome out of the way causing her to fall against a tree and hit her head. She watched the scene unfold dazed as the two fighters thrashed and clawed at each other.

“Hey mutt! I’m over here!” Koga growled as he jumped out of InuYasha’s reach and flipped back towards where Kagome sat.

“Get over here and stop running you wimpy wolf!” InuYasha snarled back, his teeth bared as he leapt at the wolf demon. Kagome stood shakily on her feet and advanced towards the two of them.

“Enough!” she shouted when Koga held InuYasha up by the throat. They ignored her and InuYasha kicked with both feet at the same time and pushed off of Koga’s chest causing Koga’s claws to tear at the skin on his neck. A silver chain fell to the ground and was ignored by the combatants.

Kagome had enough, InuYasha was bleeding from gashes on his neck and Koga was doubled over and gasping for breath. Kagome went into the center of it and shouted at both of them.

“In my kingdom when we have differences we have a battle over what you were fighting over and whoever wins gets the prize. We don’t kill each other for being different!” She said as she marched up to Koga and slapped him. She turned around and slapped InuYasha, or tried to. He caught her wrist.

“In your kingdom?” he asked as he grinned and showed his teeth. “Koga, I challenge you to a fight!” InuYasha said as he pulled Kagome to his side.

“I accept your challenge mutt.” Koga said as he turned and ran off.

“Don’t trust him at all.” InuYasha said as he left the clearing and looked back at her to make sure she was following him. She bent over and picked up the silver chain and animal fang and handed it to InuYasha.

“He ripped it off.” she said as he took it in his claws.

“In my Kingdom when we have differences we have a series of matches with other participants.” He said as he walked off with her trailing close behind.

***Sesshomaru***

“He did what!” Sesshomaru growled as he turned his freezing gold gaze on his servant, Jaken.

“He challenge Koga to a Challenge fight.” Jaken said as he trembled, his ugly green face worried.

“Jaken, I order you to find more fighters for this duel, and then tell my lady wife to find Kagome and take her to one of the visiting royal quarters for preparation of the prize. I take it she has no clue what those two were fighting over.” Sesshomaru said as he rubbed his head. Jaken nodded and scurried off, the oak door slamming shut behind him. “Why am I stuck with the idiots?” he said as he inspected a claw.

“Maybe because your brother doesn’t have a retainer, sire.” a small voice said from the table.

“Myoga?” Sesshomaru asked as he looked at the flea on the table.

“None other sir. I decided to help with your problem. My family is safe with the money InuYasha brought us from the fair.” Myoga spoke as he bowed. “I am at your service my humble lord.”

“No, not mine, InuYasha’s.” Sesshomaru said and the flea squeaked.

“Lord InuYasha?” he asked worriedly.

“Yes, him.” Sesshomaru said, his gaze melting.

“I’ll die sir, I’ll die.” the flea cried as he hopped to the door.

***Sango***

“Stupid, stupid, stupid Monk!” Sango cursed as she stormed through the castle. A messenger had been sent to her with new that Miroku had been attacked. She ignored the dull ache in her shoulder and headed to the room in which Miroku had been confined.

“Please?” she heard his silky voice.

“No.” Kaede said sternly.

“I don’t wanna be in here!” he whined like a child.

“You were poisoned, a rib might be broken and all you can think of is getting out of this room?” Kagome asked him.

“But I hate being in a bed!” he protested.

“Why?” Kaede asked.

“Because he can’t get up to chase women’s skirts.” Sango said coldly as she entered the room. Miroku was propped up against the head board, a thick white bandage around his chest and stomach. Sango felt her chest tighten as she looked at him but pushed it away.

“Help!” Miroku whined as soon as he saw the fuming Sango.

“Who did this to you? Nobody hurts my soldiers!” Sango snarled as she stood next to the open door.

“Bandits?” he said as if he didn’t know.

“Bandits?” she repeated then left the room. “I’ll kill every last one!” she vowed.

“Sango?” a calm voice said as she walked past. “Come here.”

She turned to find Sesshomaru standing in an open door way. “yes?”

“I want you to find all fighters that can compete with InuYasha and Koga. We have a competition on our hands.” He told her then closed the door.

“Great, now I have to find strong demons.” Sango cursed as she stormed out of the castle to her hut.

***The stables***

“Okay, I see now why he took an interest in you, young fox.” a man leaning on a rake said as Shippo stroked the soft velvet nose of InuYasha’s demonic horse. The fox kit was dressed in clean clothes, colored red and silver, colors that clashed horribly with his hair. He tugged on his pants and looked up at the groom.

“Interest in me?” Shippo asked the man.

“His horse is rumored to be birthed from the very fires of hell and only InuYasha himself can handle the beast.” the man said as he raked out a stall.

“Fires of hell.” Shippo repeated as a newcomer was led into the barn, a delicate palomino mare, her stature small and delicate and her bloodline clearly pure and untainted. Her face had a small white diamond in the direct center and a small snipe on her muzzle. She nickered to Shippo as the man led the horse to a stall in the back. Ryu whickered, his head held high. Shippo laughed at him.

“Whose horse is that?” Shippo asked pointing to the palomino.

“Her?” The groom asked as the man held him a set of papers. The groom leafed through them. “RoseFire?” he said as he looked at the mare. “It says Lord InuYasha ordered her.” the man left and the groom stuck the papers in his pocket.

“I wonder why?” Shippo asked as he handed a sugar cube to Ryu who ate it gently. The groom walked up and Ryu lashed out with his teeth.

“Seems he takes to you.” InuYasha said as he entered the stable. The groom nodded and pulled the papers out and handed them to InuYasha. The horse nickered as InuYasha stroked his nose. “Shippo, your job is to watch RoseFire.” he told the fox.

“RoseFire?” Shippo asked looking in the direction of the said horse.

“Yes, the woman I’m giving her to doesn’t have a groom yet and you seem like a natural.” InuYasha said gruffly as he stuck the papers in his pocket. “Kaio, I need you to prepare him for an event tomorrow, jousting.”

As InuYasha turned and left he became aware of a shadow in the corner, a shadow covered in bandages.

“Miroku!” Kaede called from the castle as she looked outside in the opposite direction.

“Shh!” Miroku said as he held a finger to his lips. “I hate lying in bed sick, I had to escape. By the way, Koga’s here.”

“I know,” InuYasha said as he looked at his friend. “You still hurt.”

“No shit,” Miroku said as he winced. “Broke a few ribs, remember?”

“Ya, Kaede!” InuYasha bellowed and motioned to her. Kaede narrowed her eye and advanced on Miroku with an aura of anger.

“Miroku!” she shouted as she pointed at him, “Get back in the castle at this instant before I knock you out and tie you to your bed!” Miroku cringed and nodded, he shuffled after Kaede with a glare back at InuYasha.

InuYasha sneezed as he set his nose to a sent and went to find Kagome.