InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unfettered ❯ Duty and Honor ( Chapter 16 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: inufan625 
InuYasha fights for Sesshomaru
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.15.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 1.9K | Status: Completed
InuYasha fights for Sesshomaru
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 01.15.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.8K | Visits: 1.9K | Status: Completed
A/N: I am so sorry for how long this took. My only excuse is that fight scenes are really hard for me- that and the holidays were very busy as well. I have two more chapters nearly finished and am going to try to update two more times this month.
Fore those you still with me after such a long wait I want to thank you, and also a huge thanks to those who have reviewed!
Update progress and the occasional teaser can be found at http:///inufan625.livejournal.com
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha nor will I make any money from this.
Thanks go to doggiearlover for her skills as my beta and I hope you enjoy!
He sighed, and picked up the pace, so as not to fall too far behind the ball of light streaking ahead of him. Briefly, he wondered what it would be like to have such a form to draw upon: that, and Sesshomaru’s other form as well. He would never put voice to it, but he did think it would be nice to be able to turn into a giant, terrifying, demon dog. InuYasha shook those thoughts out of his head. Maybe if Kagome weren’t around, being a full youkai would still be something that he wanted. As things were though, it was something he no longer desired beyond a passing curiosity of what it must be like, and the possible knowledge it could give him of what his father had been.
It was well after dark when Sesshomaru halted their journey. The tai youkai decided that it would be best to wait and arrive at the castle in the morning. This would give InuYasha the chance at a full day and night’s rest, as opposed to the mere few hours he would be allowed, if they were to arrive during the night.
InuYasha agreed, both because he wanted to be at full strength, and because he was hungry. Any food at the castle was likely to be prepared to the tastes of youkai. While the hanyou could stomach his meat raw, if he was desperate, he much preferred it to be cooked. Without Rin to cater to, it wasn’t likely that any concessions would be made for a half-breed, even at Sesshomaru’s command. A human pet they would tolerate, but an upstart hanyou that had come to challenge a youkai was another matter entirely.
The youkai leading him to his quarters merely looked at him down the bridge of her nose, and maintained a very sour look on her face, as if she smelled something nasty. It wasn’t anything that he wasn’t used to, from Sesshomaru no less, and so it was easy to ignore. Also easy to ignore were the comments of those they passed on their way through the halls. After all, none of them were saying anything he hadn’t heard a hundred times before. He simply continued on with his head held high and a pleasant look on his face. It didn’t matter what anyone thought of him. The only person who really mattered was Kagome, and she loved him, exactly as he was. It was a lesson that had taken him a long time to learn, but one he wasn’t about to forget now.
“Pathetic. This is who Sesshomaru-sama chooses to defend him? I hear he has a mate as well, a human. Likely, she is either simple, or a whore. Why else would she choose to be with that?”
InuYasha had managed to remain completely apathetic to their remarks until one of them crossed the line and said something about Kagome. A snarling growl escaped him, and faster than anyone had expected, he had the offending youkai pinned to the wall by his throat. Blood seeped around InuYasha’s claws as he lifted the youkai from the floor.
“Say whatever you like about me,” InuYasha said. “But you won’t say a fucking word about my mate. I don’t give a fuck who you are. If I hear anyone insulting her, I will kill them. If you doubt that I can, then feel free to test me. Better yet, I’ll let Sesshomaru do it, and I bet there ain’t a one of you who doesn’t think he can.”
After another hard look, InuYasha released the youkai and turned away, daring him to retaliate. When no attack came, he snorted. “What are we waiting for, bitch? Let’s go.”
The female youkai blinked. She no longer wore a distasteful expression, but one of extreme surprise. She nodded and headed off quickly down the hall.
‘Good,’ InuYasha thought, ‘let them wonder if they shouldn’t be worried about me after all.’
Throughout the day InuYasha continued to hear whispered conversations. Word of what he had done earlier had spread through the castle in a matter of minutes. Now, along with the insults spoken just loud enough to be overheard, were comments of curious speculation, and some of grudging respect. He had, of course, known that mating was serious, but apparently having a mate whose honor you were willing to fight and die for was something not to be balked at lightly. It seemed that no matter how far away she was, Kagome would always find some way to help him, even if she didn’t know she was doing it.
At Sesshomaru’s request, InuYasha dined with him, and was pleased to note that in addition to raw boar, there was also rice and fish, both of which he enjoyed. Of course it wasn’t as good as ramen, but you couldn’t win them all.
“It has come to my attention that you assaulted a member of the staff this morning,” Sesshomaru said casually.
Everyone else fell silent at the remark.
InuYasha just snorted. “Bastard shouldn’t have said nothing about Kagome. It ain’t like I killed him or anything.”
His brother raised an eyebrow. “Indeed. I was aware of this, and my true question was, why you did not.”
Both men ignored the collective gasp. They knew that their lord had developed his father’s fondness for humans, but not that he would so clearly value the honor of one, over the life of one of his own kind.
“Kagome wouldn’t have wanted me to,” InuYasha replied.
Sesshomaru nodded, accepting his reason without further comment.
As he walked beside his brother he could feel the steady hum of his youkai blood growing louder as it pulsed through his veins. It was a primal sort of anticipation that he always felt just before heading into battle. His youki was rising, ready and willing to face any challenge put before him, and eager to shed the blood of his opponent.
When Sesshomaru glanced at him with a curious eye, InuYasha knew that he must be able to feel his power increasing.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good fight,” InuYasha said. “Most youkai stupid enough to come after me are just pathetic, and my pup took care of the last one that could have given me decent challenge.”
The tai youkai simply nodded. He knew well how seductive the call of one’s youkai blood could be when presented a worthy adversary. There were not many who could stand for any length of time against him, and so it was not often that the beast of carnage inside of him was allowed free. He was relieved that his brother would be allowed to keep the Tetsusaiga with him in case the need grew too strong to contain.
“I ain’t going to lose control,” InuYasha said, as if reading his thoughts. “I know how much freedom I can give him without letting him take control.”
Sesshomaru paused briefly, but did not look at InuYasha as he spoke, “You have my confidence, little brother. You would not be here were it otherwise.”
Without further discussion, they continued outside and away from the castle, to a large open area. There was not so much as a single blade of grass growing out of the dark earth.
“The training grounds,” Sesshomaru explained.
InuYasha’s attention was captured as a solidly built inu youkai stepped out of the crowd of spectators. Taller than he, but not as tall as Sesshomaru, the youkai approached. His brindled hair was streaked with silver and cut short against his head. He walked with confidence, and his gray eyes shone with arrogance. InuYasha knew that this must be the youkai he was to face.
“Yuudai,” the youkai lord said. “My brother has accepted your challenge.”
“Do you so desire to see your brother dead, Sesshomaru-sama?” Yuudai asked with a sneer. “You cannot possibly believe that this pathetic half breed can defeat me.”
There were several gasps from those gathered to bear witness at the insult in his tone to the younger son of their former Lord. Privately, it was acceptable to voice such contempt; but before so many witnesses, it was unthinkable.
“My father’s blood flows through him as surely as it does through This Sesshomaru, and you will show him the proper respect,” the tai youkai said in a dangerous tone.
“I beg your pardon,” Yuudai replied, making no effort to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
“Keh, are we going to do this or what?” InuYasha cut in. “I got a mate at home waiting for me to get back.”
“In such a rush to die, are we?” his opponent questioned.
“I ain’t the one running my mouth, like a woman, trying to drag this out,” InuYasha snorted. “And I ain’t the one who should be worried about getting killed, either.”
At this, there were a few outraged cries. What right did a mere hanyou have to speak in such a way to one of the strongest and fiercest of their number? InuYasha couldn’t have cared less. He was anxious to get this over with, and get back to his mate and son. He missed them, and he also knew that he would never be able to forgive himself if anything happened to them while he was gone, no matter how worthy the cause.
“Yes, I am sure you are very confident when you are able to cower behind the fang of your father, to depend on a youkai far greater than yourself for protection,” Yuudai taunted.
“The council agreed-” Sesshomaru began.
“Fine, bastard, if you’re afraid of my father, then I’ll teach you that it’s me you really need to worry about, without using the Tetsusaiga,” InuYasha interrupted, ignoring the look he was receiving from his brother.
“You are certain that is how you wish to proceed?” Sesshomaru asked.
InuYasha smirked. “Yeah, it’ll be more fun this way.”
“So be it,” the youkai lord acquiesced.
“And none of that first blood bullshit either,” InuYasha added, looking Yuudai directly in the eyes. “Just because you’re bleeding don’t mean you’ve been beaten. We fight until one of us ain’t able to go on. Is that okay with you, or is it more than you can handle?”
“Yuudai, do you accept the new conditions?” Sesshomaru prompted. The other youkai nodded. “Then the challenge begins on my word.”
InuYasha took several steps back from Yuddai as Sesshomaru retreated and joined the other witnesses. He bent his knees and cracked his knuckles as he waited for the fight to start. He glanced at his brother one final time and received the smallest of nods, before hearing the word, ‘begin’.
The hanyou waited for his opponent to make the first move. While it was true that he normally charged into battle without much consideration, this was different. He knew that if he was going to win without using his sword that he was going to have to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of his challenger. He didn’t have to wait long.
Yuudai stuck with his claws first, letting them graze InuYasha’s cheek. The youkai sneered in satisfaction as he returned to his original position. “Ready to admit defeat?”
InuYasha wiped the back of his hand across his face. He glanced at the blood and snorted. The bastard was fast, but nowhere near as fast as Sesshomaru. “Ha! If that’s the best you got, then I should be the one asking you that.”
The youkai’s face contorted in fury and he snarled. He flew at InuYasha, intent on delivering a much more serious attack, only to cry out in stunned outrage as the hanyou dodged him with ease. It became clear to all that the real fight had just begun. There would be no more boasting or insults thrown, only blows.
For the moment InuYasha was content to be on the defensive, so that he could get the best measure of what he was up against.
Again, Yuudai came at him, leading with his claws. InuYasha flipped backwards out of reach. Then he took advantage of his opponent’s unprotected side, which had been left wide open when he missed with his strike, and landed a solid kick.
The youkai took several quick steps to avoid falling, and once he had regained his balanced, he turned. InuYasha noticed at once his eyes bleeding red. Relentlessly, Yuudai began to press forward with his attacks. For the most part InuYasha was able to deflect the blows completely and return them in kind, but occasionally the dog demon’s claws managed to rake across his flesh.
None of the wounds were life threatening, or even that painful, but InuYasha did not relish the idea of having to explain to Kagome all the healing wounds on his body. Nor did he want to have to tell her that he could have prevented them by ending the fight, but had instead dragged it out because it had been so long since he had faced a decent challenge. Deciding that upsetting Kagome wasn’t worth it, he made his move.
InuYasha waited until Yuudai totally committed himself to what would have been a debilitating blow, and then, at the last second, ducked. Taking advantage of the youkai’s already injured side, InuYasha drove his fist into Yuudai’s ribs. As he returned to his full height, he landed a second hit, this one across his opponent’s face, sending him flying through the air.
The hanyou was about to approach and demand that the dog demon admit defeat, when he felt Yuudai begin to focus his youki. The silence that fell over those gathered was deafening, as the youkai made it to his feet. In his right hand was a blue ball of energy. For this challenge, using such an attack had been disallowed, and it was a very dishonorable thing to go against the rules agreed upon before the fight had begun.
InuYasha narrowed his eyes and waited. With a roar, Yuudai flung out his hand and sent the blazing ball of youkai fire directly at him. The hanyou dodged easily, and as he spun, he gathered some of his blood onto his claws. With a cry of his own, he sent his blades of blood at the dog demon.
As they landed InuYasha surmised that Yuudai had not been aware that he was capable of creating such an attack, since he had not even tried to move out of its path. Blood poured from the youkai’s shoulder and he threw back his head with a howl of fury.
InuYasha watched as the demon began to transform. Sesshomaru tried to approach, but the hanyou shook his head. “I want to finish this.”
The demon lord acquiesced to his brother’s wishes, and stepped back, but did not remain silent. “Yuudai has dishonored us all with his actions. Any one present who would object to my brother being permitted to use the Tetsusaiga, speak now.”
No one raised an objection, and while InuYasha still intended to defeat the bastard without using his sword, he was glad to have it as an option, in the unlikely event that he could not win without it.
Yuudai was nowhere near as large as Sesshomaru, and his saliva wasn’t corrosive, either. InuYasha found himself wondering how this could possibly be the strongest youkai general. It was easy for the hanyou to avoid the youkai’s attempts to strike him with his massive paws. In fact the demon had actually handicapped himself, since InuYasha was so much lighter on his feet.
InuYasha let the giant dog think that he wasn’t going to be able to get out of the way in time as he brought his paws down to crush him, and then dove between the beast’s legs. On his way under the youkai, InuYasha slashed the backs of both of his hind legs, effectively disabling him; but Yuudai still did not give up. He thrashed his head and snapped his jaws as InuYasha drew near.
With a sigh of frustration, the hanyou swiped at his muzzle and demanded that he yield, since he was clearly unable to continue, being unable to stand; but the youkai refused. It was only then that InuYasha drove his fist into one of his large red eyes.
The dog demon howled in agony and in a flash of light returned to his human form. InuYasha stood over him poised to deal another blow, if necessary. Yuudai remained kneeling on the ground clutching his eye.
“Don’t make me kill you,” InuYasha said. “It doesn’t have to come to that.”
“I yield,” Yuudai muttered unwillingly.
InuYasha retreated a few paces and waited for his brother to join him. Sesshomaru allowed the slightest upturn of his lips as he faced his younger brother, before resuming his usual stoic expression, so that he could turn and address the crowd.
“Are there any who still doubt the strength of my father’s blood? Speak now, or your loyalty to myself, and my future mate and hanyou heirs, will be assumed, from this day forward. Know that a swift death will come to any who would object once this moment had passed,” Sesshomaru announced. “If you cannot abide this, then leave the western lands before sunset and never return.”
The youkai lord waited several moments and then turned away. He nodded to InuYasha to indicate that he should follow, and together, they headed into the castle.
“You fought well,” Sesshomaru said once they had reached the guest quarters. “What will you do now?”
While it would have been nice to stick around and gloat about his victory, InuYasha was more than ready to head home. He wanted to spend some time with his son and Kagome, and then, even more time with Kagome, alone. Sesshomaru, too, seemed ready to be on their way, and the hanyou had a sneaking suspicion that it was for very much the same reason he wanted some private time with his mate. His brother had been waiting years for Rin to be old enough to be with him.
If they didn’t take too long in heading out, then they would be back in his forest before midday tomorrow.
“I think I’ll get all this damn blood cleaned off, and then head out,” InuYasha replied.
Sesshomaru nodded. “I will be waiting. We will depart as soon as you are ready.”
Neither slowed when they came upon the bodies of several guards. There wasn’t time, because long before his home was in sight the air had become thick and heavy with the scent of Kagome’s blood.
At last, the meadow where his home stood came into view.
Fore those you still with me after such a long wait I want to thank you, and also a huge thanks to those who have reviewed!
Update progress and the occasional teaser can be found at http:///inufan625.livejournal.com
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha nor will I make any money from this.
Thanks go to doggiearlover for her skills as my beta and I hope you enjoy!
~ * ~
InuYasha missed Kagome and their son already, even though they were barely out of sight. Had it not been for the fact that the situation with his brother and Rin needed to be resolved quickly, in order to preserve peace in their father’s lands, then he never would have left them. He wished that he could have brought them along with him as well, but knew that would have been even more dangerous than leaving them behind.He sighed, and picked up the pace, so as not to fall too far behind the ball of light streaking ahead of him. Briefly, he wondered what it would be like to have such a form to draw upon: that, and Sesshomaru’s other form as well. He would never put voice to it, but he did think it would be nice to be able to turn into a giant, terrifying, demon dog. InuYasha shook those thoughts out of his head. Maybe if Kagome weren’t around, being a full youkai would still be something that he wanted. As things were though, it was something he no longer desired beyond a passing curiosity of what it must be like, and the possible knowledge it could give him of what his father had been.
It was well after dark when Sesshomaru halted their journey. The tai youkai decided that it would be best to wait and arrive at the castle in the morning. This would give InuYasha the chance at a full day and night’s rest, as opposed to the mere few hours he would be allowed, if they were to arrive during the night.
InuYasha agreed, both because he wanted to be at full strength, and because he was hungry. Any food at the castle was likely to be prepared to the tastes of youkai. While the hanyou could stomach his meat raw, if he was desperate, he much preferred it to be cooked. Without Rin to cater to, it wasn’t likely that any concessions would be made for a half-breed, even at Sesshomaru’s command. A human pet they would tolerate, but an upstart hanyou that had come to challenge a youkai was another matter entirely.
~ * ~
They arrived at the castle only a short time after sunrise. Of course, none of the youkai waiting for their arrival would dare to say anything untoward when it was possible that Sesshomaru would hear them. However, when they parted ways, that all changed.The youkai leading him to his quarters merely looked at him down the bridge of her nose, and maintained a very sour look on her face, as if she smelled something nasty. It wasn’t anything that he wasn’t used to, from Sesshomaru no less, and so it was easy to ignore. Also easy to ignore were the comments of those they passed on their way through the halls. After all, none of them were saying anything he hadn’t heard a hundred times before. He simply continued on with his head held high and a pleasant look on his face. It didn’t matter what anyone thought of him. The only person who really mattered was Kagome, and she loved him, exactly as he was. It was a lesson that had taken him a long time to learn, but one he wasn’t about to forget now.
“Pathetic. This is who Sesshomaru-sama chooses to defend him? I hear he has a mate as well, a human. Likely, she is either simple, or a whore. Why else would she choose to be with that?”
InuYasha had managed to remain completely apathetic to their remarks until one of them crossed the line and said something about Kagome. A snarling growl escaped him, and faster than anyone had expected, he had the offending youkai pinned to the wall by his throat. Blood seeped around InuYasha’s claws as he lifted the youkai from the floor.
“Say whatever you like about me,” InuYasha said. “But you won’t say a fucking word about my mate. I don’t give a fuck who you are. If I hear anyone insulting her, I will kill them. If you doubt that I can, then feel free to test me. Better yet, I’ll let Sesshomaru do it, and I bet there ain’t a one of you who doesn’t think he can.”
After another hard look, InuYasha released the youkai and turned away, daring him to retaliate. When no attack came, he snorted. “What are we waiting for, bitch? Let’s go.”
The female youkai blinked. She no longer wore a distasteful expression, but one of extreme surprise. She nodded and headed off quickly down the hall.
‘Good,’ InuYasha thought, ‘let them wonder if they shouldn’t be worried about me after all.’
Throughout the day InuYasha continued to hear whispered conversations. Word of what he had done earlier had spread through the castle in a matter of minutes. Now, along with the insults spoken just loud enough to be overheard, were comments of curious speculation, and some of grudging respect. He had, of course, known that mating was serious, but apparently having a mate whose honor you were willing to fight and die for was something not to be balked at lightly. It seemed that no matter how far away she was, Kagome would always find some way to help him, even if she didn’t know she was doing it.
At Sesshomaru’s request, InuYasha dined with him, and was pleased to note that in addition to raw boar, there was also rice and fish, both of which he enjoyed. Of course it wasn’t as good as ramen, but you couldn’t win them all.
“It has come to my attention that you assaulted a member of the staff this morning,” Sesshomaru said casually.
Everyone else fell silent at the remark.
InuYasha just snorted. “Bastard shouldn’t have said nothing about Kagome. It ain’t like I killed him or anything.”
His brother raised an eyebrow. “Indeed. I was aware of this, and my true question was, why you did not.”
Both men ignored the collective gasp. They knew that their lord had developed his father’s fondness for humans, but not that he would so clearly value the honor of one, over the life of one of his own kind.
“Kagome wouldn’t have wanted me to,” InuYasha replied.
Sesshomaru nodded, accepting his reason without further comment.
~ * ~
InuYasha woke as Sesshomaru entered the room. Nothing needed to be said, and so the hanyou nodded and came smoothly to his feet. It was time.As he walked beside his brother he could feel the steady hum of his youkai blood growing louder as it pulsed through his veins. It was a primal sort of anticipation that he always felt just before heading into battle. His youki was rising, ready and willing to face any challenge put before him, and eager to shed the blood of his opponent.
When Sesshomaru glanced at him with a curious eye, InuYasha knew that he must be able to feel his power increasing.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good fight,” InuYasha said. “Most youkai stupid enough to come after me are just pathetic, and my pup took care of the last one that could have given me decent challenge.”
The tai youkai simply nodded. He knew well how seductive the call of one’s youkai blood could be when presented a worthy adversary. There were not many who could stand for any length of time against him, and so it was not often that the beast of carnage inside of him was allowed free. He was relieved that his brother would be allowed to keep the Tetsusaiga with him in case the need grew too strong to contain.
“I ain’t going to lose control,” InuYasha said, as if reading his thoughts. “I know how much freedom I can give him without letting him take control.”
Sesshomaru paused briefly, but did not look at InuYasha as he spoke, “You have my confidence, little brother. You would not be here were it otherwise.”
Without further discussion, they continued outside and away from the castle, to a large open area. There was not so much as a single blade of grass growing out of the dark earth.
“The training grounds,” Sesshomaru explained.
InuYasha’s attention was captured as a solidly built inu youkai stepped out of the crowd of spectators. Taller than he, but not as tall as Sesshomaru, the youkai approached. His brindled hair was streaked with silver and cut short against his head. He walked with confidence, and his gray eyes shone with arrogance. InuYasha knew that this must be the youkai he was to face.
“Yuudai,” the youkai lord said. “My brother has accepted your challenge.”
“Do you so desire to see your brother dead, Sesshomaru-sama?” Yuudai asked with a sneer. “You cannot possibly believe that this pathetic half breed can defeat me.”
There were several gasps from those gathered to bear witness at the insult in his tone to the younger son of their former Lord. Privately, it was acceptable to voice such contempt; but before so many witnesses, it was unthinkable.
“My father’s blood flows through him as surely as it does through This Sesshomaru, and you will show him the proper respect,” the tai youkai said in a dangerous tone.
“I beg your pardon,” Yuudai replied, making no effort to keep the sarcasm from his voice.
“Keh, are we going to do this or what?” InuYasha cut in. “I got a mate at home waiting for me to get back.”
“In such a rush to die, are we?” his opponent questioned.
“I ain’t the one running my mouth, like a woman, trying to drag this out,” InuYasha snorted. “And I ain’t the one who should be worried about getting killed, either.”
At this, there were a few outraged cries. What right did a mere hanyou have to speak in such a way to one of the strongest and fiercest of their number? InuYasha couldn’t have cared less. He was anxious to get this over with, and get back to his mate and son. He missed them, and he also knew that he would never be able to forgive himself if anything happened to them while he was gone, no matter how worthy the cause.
“Yes, I am sure you are very confident when you are able to cower behind the fang of your father, to depend on a youkai far greater than yourself for protection,” Yuudai taunted.
“The council agreed-” Sesshomaru began.
“Fine, bastard, if you’re afraid of my father, then I’ll teach you that it’s me you really need to worry about, without using the Tetsusaiga,” InuYasha interrupted, ignoring the look he was receiving from his brother.
“You are certain that is how you wish to proceed?” Sesshomaru asked.
InuYasha smirked. “Yeah, it’ll be more fun this way.”
“So be it,” the youkai lord acquiesced.
“And none of that first blood bullshit either,” InuYasha added, looking Yuudai directly in the eyes. “Just because you’re bleeding don’t mean you’ve been beaten. We fight until one of us ain’t able to go on. Is that okay with you, or is it more than you can handle?”
“Yuudai, do you accept the new conditions?” Sesshomaru prompted. The other youkai nodded. “Then the challenge begins on my word.”
InuYasha took several steps back from Yuddai as Sesshomaru retreated and joined the other witnesses. He bent his knees and cracked his knuckles as he waited for the fight to start. He glanced at his brother one final time and received the smallest of nods, before hearing the word, ‘begin’.
The hanyou waited for his opponent to make the first move. While it was true that he normally charged into battle without much consideration, this was different. He knew that if he was going to win without using his sword that he was going to have to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of his challenger. He didn’t have to wait long.
Yuudai stuck with his claws first, letting them graze InuYasha’s cheek. The youkai sneered in satisfaction as he returned to his original position. “Ready to admit defeat?”
InuYasha wiped the back of his hand across his face. He glanced at the blood and snorted. The bastard was fast, but nowhere near as fast as Sesshomaru. “Ha! If that’s the best you got, then I should be the one asking you that.”
The youkai’s face contorted in fury and he snarled. He flew at InuYasha, intent on delivering a much more serious attack, only to cry out in stunned outrage as the hanyou dodged him with ease. It became clear to all that the real fight had just begun. There would be no more boasting or insults thrown, only blows.
For the moment InuYasha was content to be on the defensive, so that he could get the best measure of what he was up against.
Again, Yuudai came at him, leading with his claws. InuYasha flipped backwards out of reach. Then he took advantage of his opponent’s unprotected side, which had been left wide open when he missed with his strike, and landed a solid kick.
The youkai took several quick steps to avoid falling, and once he had regained his balanced, he turned. InuYasha noticed at once his eyes bleeding red. Relentlessly, Yuudai began to press forward with his attacks. For the most part InuYasha was able to deflect the blows completely and return them in kind, but occasionally the dog demon’s claws managed to rake across his flesh.
None of the wounds were life threatening, or even that painful, but InuYasha did not relish the idea of having to explain to Kagome all the healing wounds on his body. Nor did he want to have to tell her that he could have prevented them by ending the fight, but had instead dragged it out because it had been so long since he had faced a decent challenge. Deciding that upsetting Kagome wasn’t worth it, he made his move.
InuYasha waited until Yuudai totally committed himself to what would have been a debilitating blow, and then, at the last second, ducked. Taking advantage of the youkai’s already injured side, InuYasha drove his fist into Yuudai’s ribs. As he returned to his full height, he landed a second hit, this one across his opponent’s face, sending him flying through the air.
The hanyou was about to approach and demand that the dog demon admit defeat, when he felt Yuudai begin to focus his youki. The silence that fell over those gathered was deafening, as the youkai made it to his feet. In his right hand was a blue ball of energy. For this challenge, using such an attack had been disallowed, and it was a very dishonorable thing to go against the rules agreed upon before the fight had begun.
InuYasha narrowed his eyes and waited. With a roar, Yuudai flung out his hand and sent the blazing ball of youkai fire directly at him. The hanyou dodged easily, and as he spun, he gathered some of his blood onto his claws. With a cry of his own, he sent his blades of blood at the dog demon.
As they landed InuYasha surmised that Yuudai had not been aware that he was capable of creating such an attack, since he had not even tried to move out of its path. Blood poured from the youkai’s shoulder and he threw back his head with a howl of fury.
InuYasha watched as the demon began to transform. Sesshomaru tried to approach, but the hanyou shook his head. “I want to finish this.”
The demon lord acquiesced to his brother’s wishes, and stepped back, but did not remain silent. “Yuudai has dishonored us all with his actions. Any one present who would object to my brother being permitted to use the Tetsusaiga, speak now.”
No one raised an objection, and while InuYasha still intended to defeat the bastard without using his sword, he was glad to have it as an option, in the unlikely event that he could not win without it.
Yuudai was nowhere near as large as Sesshomaru, and his saliva wasn’t corrosive, either. InuYasha found himself wondering how this could possibly be the strongest youkai general. It was easy for the hanyou to avoid the youkai’s attempts to strike him with his massive paws. In fact the demon had actually handicapped himself, since InuYasha was so much lighter on his feet.
InuYasha let the giant dog think that he wasn’t going to be able to get out of the way in time as he brought his paws down to crush him, and then dove between the beast’s legs. On his way under the youkai, InuYasha slashed the backs of both of his hind legs, effectively disabling him; but Yuudai still did not give up. He thrashed his head and snapped his jaws as InuYasha drew near.
With a sigh of frustration, the hanyou swiped at his muzzle and demanded that he yield, since he was clearly unable to continue, being unable to stand; but the youkai refused. It was only then that InuYasha drove his fist into one of his large red eyes.
The dog demon howled in agony and in a flash of light returned to his human form. InuYasha stood over him poised to deal another blow, if necessary. Yuudai remained kneeling on the ground clutching his eye.
“Don’t make me kill you,” InuYasha said. “It doesn’t have to come to that.”
“I yield,” Yuudai muttered unwillingly.
InuYasha retreated a few paces and waited for his brother to join him. Sesshomaru allowed the slightest upturn of his lips as he faced his younger brother, before resuming his usual stoic expression, so that he could turn and address the crowd.
“Are there any who still doubt the strength of my father’s blood? Speak now, or your loyalty to myself, and my future mate and hanyou heirs, will be assumed, from this day forward. Know that a swift death will come to any who would object once this moment had passed,” Sesshomaru announced. “If you cannot abide this, then leave the western lands before sunset and never return.”
The youkai lord waited several moments and then turned away. He nodded to InuYasha to indicate that he should follow, and together, they headed into the castle.
“You fought well,” Sesshomaru said once they had reached the guest quarters. “What will you do now?”
While it would have been nice to stick around and gloat about his victory, InuYasha was more than ready to head home. He wanted to spend some time with his son and Kagome, and then, even more time with Kagome, alone. Sesshomaru, too, seemed ready to be on their way, and the hanyou had a sneaking suspicion that it was for very much the same reason he wanted some private time with his mate. His brother had been waiting years for Rin to be old enough to be with him.
If they didn’t take too long in heading out, then they would be back in his forest before midday tomorrow.
“I think I’ll get all this damn blood cleaned off, and then head out,” InuYasha replied.
Sesshomaru nodded. “I will be waiting. We will depart as soon as you are ready.”
~ * ~
Just as InuYasha had hoped, his forest came into sight several hours after sunrise; but to his horror, everything felt wrong. The air was thick with an ominous aura and all of the inhabitants of the forest were projecting a sense of grave disquiet. Sesshomaru materialized out of his energy form right beside him, and InuYasha could tell without asking that he sensed it, too. With a barely perceptible nod they resumed their journey. InuYasha pushed himself to run harder and faster to keep up with the streaking ball of light that was his brother.Neither slowed when they came upon the bodies of several guards. There wasn’t time, because long before his home was in sight the air had become thick and heavy with the scent of Kagome’s blood.
At last, the meadow where his home stood came into view.
~ * ~
A/N2: Please, don't kill me for ending it here. The next chapter occurs simultaniously to this one and will be up as soon as possible, I promise!