Yeah, so I'll just upload them all right now...Seishi:
Eyes narrowing, Sesshoumaru yanked himself free of Rin, his stance defensive and he swung his whip, clashing against both of Kagome?s angrily. Sparks burst from the contact, illuminating the night and Kagome swung again, wildly, almost flailing. She didn?t know how to control whips, had never had practice with them and the more she fought the more realization hit that Sesshoumaru knew how to use his only too well. He deflected each of her attacks with his own, seemingly bored as the cracking of whips rang in the night. Furiously, she attacked blindly, snapping her whips in an effort, a single effort, to reach him.
With one gesture, Sesshoumaru batted away her whips and, darting quickly, he swung offensively. His whip cracked against her face, slashing her open and she let out a muffled cry, recoiling away. The blood welled up and ran as she paused, trembling, and as she lifted her hand to her face she realized he hadn?t wasted his time. He was suddenly before her, his whip vanishing as he took hold of her by the neck. She choked instinctively, eyes squeezing shut and she heard his voice close to her as he hissed, ?I detest the touch of humans but I?m sure the acid will handle the problem.?
And her neck began to burn. Her flesh seared from the contact of his skin against hers. Effortlessly, he hoisted her up into the air, his fingers clamping tight, nails digging into the flesh of her throat. And passed the acid burning away her skin she found she couldn?t breathe. Gasping, she lifted her hands and swung the whips blindly, frantically. They connected, she felt them connect, but squeezing her eyes open she saw that he remained still, as if unaffected, even as her whips slashed open gashes on his face, his arm. His gaze remained cold, if nothing else only darkening, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt utter terror overwhelm her. She struggled vainly, knowing that she wouldn?t be able to break his grip, and her air was finally pinched off entirely, his hand squeezing shut.
Don?t be foolish.
She closed her eyes once more, trying for a breath, one single breath, and at being denied that she began to heave, gasping shortly. Her whips vanished away as she lifted her hands to pry at his fingers and as panic set in she felt the power rise, overwhelm her. All sound suddenly became quiet, except for the quiet weeping that came from Rin. And from inside her came a muffled roar, rising up.
A blast of pure energy broke from her figure, momentarily startling Sesshoumaru. He prepared for another one and a moment later it came bursting outward, Kagome shrieking with the release. But the second was a prolonged attack and the youkai growled under his breath as he felt his skin begin to sting, burn. His face blackened with fury, his teeth glinting as he applied enough pressure to crush all the bones in her throat to dust but her attack only strengthened, her eyes black with power.
With a ferocious hiss, Sesshoumaru released her neck, backing away as the darkness swarmed around him like a blowing wind and he felt the energy of it, the pure furious darkness. Falling back he covered his head with his only arm, his hair blowing about his face as he glared at the human. And she wasn?t even awake, he realized as he stared at her. Her eyes were glazed over, lost in blackness, her lips parted. Before his eyes her skin healed over without a blemish, the haori floating about her frame.
This would prove to be difficult.
Straightening, Sesshoumaru dropped his hand away, ignoring the burning winds, and his eyes widened, crimson darkness sweeping his pupils, his irises. He felt his form shift, his features protrude, and he was forced to his knees, breaking from his human shell and increasing in size. With a murmured growl he grew, a snout forming, losing any semblance of humanity and behind him Rin stared up in awe, her mouth hanging open.
Completing his transformation he looked down upon the girl, his body that of a large white canine demon, hissing and growling.
Kagome stared up as well, her face becoming purposeful and the winds blowing around her increased, shoving aside all things not rooted to the ground. With a squeak, Rin felt her feet slide out from under her and she toppled face down to the ground, her fingers reaching out to latch onto dirt. It was loose, rolling under her fingers and she felt herself slide further, trailing.
With barely a look away from Kagome Sesshoumaru lifted a large paw and brought it down on Rin, trapping her to the floor, and she let out a sigh inside the cover of his paw, murmuring, ?Arigato??
Kagome turned her face to Sesshoumaru, her hair blowing about her face and neck, and she pointed to him silently.
Black power burst from her form, striking the ground roughly and streaking across it, breaking up earth and flinging dirt as it flew. The land trembled from the attack, her form swaying slightly and Sesshoumaru braced against the power, his body a formidable wall against it as it forked and struck him head on. He made a small sound, his fur blackened where he had been struck, and he let loose a furious bark before tossing Rin away from his foot and snapping at Kagome with sharp, white teeth.
Kagome?s lips drew back as he caught her by the waist, teeth digging into her body with a snap. He hauled her up into the air, his jaw closing around her as if she were a snack and she made a small sound, her hands taking hold of his snout and jaw, working to force them apart. Her strength was suddenly heightened but the youkai refused to release her, a low rumble loosing itself from his throat and hanging in the air, underlying the blowing winds.
?You should have joined my side,? she murmured dangerously to him, and with a wrathful shriek she suddenly snapped his jaw open, freeing herself in his mouth.
The youkai recoiled in surprise, his head hanging low as he shook his snout brusquely and she came loose, falling from his mouth to crash to the ground roughly. Sesshoumaru backed away a step, eyes burning, and he staggered, his head hanging low.
?Sesshoumaru-sama!? Rin cried, and she took a step, suddenly running to the youkai lord.
With a small smile Kagome turned on her as well, whips uncoiling from her hands once more and she swung wordlessly, her heart beating.
A flash of red moved before her and a moment later another silver-haired figure stood in her way, taking each crack of her whips against his forearms as he lifted them to protect his face. Behind him Rin came a screeching halt, her eyes widening, and she stared up at Inuyasha in silent wonder.
?That?s enough,? he growled dangerously to Kagome as she stared wordlessly as well, stunned.
?What are you-? she whispered hoarsely and she suddenly whirled as Kirara landed roughly, powerful paws scratching into the earth. She stared at the large feline and at the monk as he dismounted, staff swinging.
?Hiraikotsu!?
Whirling once more she was not in time to defend against the bone boomerang and it caught her dead in the stomach, flinging her backward. She was hurled into the ground and her body slid, throwing up earth as she settled several feet away with a soft moan.
Inuyasha stared at her then at Sango as the exterminator landed where Kagome had just stood. Staring at the fallen woman Sango lifted her hand and caught the bone boomerang as it returned to her, dragging her a step.
?Is she?? Inuyasha asked and before she could answer he was already racing forward, sliding to a crouch beside Kagome.
Behind him, silently, Sesshoumaru began to shift once more, shrinking, his features drawing in and becoming those of a human. Inuyasha glanced over, taking in the burned flesh of his chest, the blood that fell from his lips and he felt his eyes widen as his brother reverted to human form only to fall to one knee wearily.
?Sesshoumaru-?
?I will not-? his brother growled furiously, and he rose to his feet in one angry gesture albeit unsteadily, ?handle your problems for you, Inuyasha!?
Inuyasha stared at him, swallowing audibly.
Rin came running to Sesshoumaru?s side, reaching up to clasp at his sleeve gingerly and he ignored her, breathing heavily. His eyes trailed down to Kagome as she murmured in unconsciousness and without another word he turned and moved away, his shoulders heavy.
?You?don?t want to kill her?? Inuyasha asked him in disbelief, watching his brother as he walked away from a battle.
Sesshoumaru didn?t bother turning around. ?What would be the point? You?ve done the task quite well by yourself.? And without another word he stalked off, Rin casting them a grateful look over her shoulder before tagging along.
Inuyasha stared off after him silently, his jaw clenching.
?I?m scared to touch her?? Sango whispered, staring down at Kagome?s unconscious figure where they had propped her up beside a tree. She wrapped her arms around her body, glancing toward Inuyasha in the same tree and Miroku off to the side before slowly backing away.
?She?s unconscious,? Inuyasha said to her quietly where he sat on a branch and he lifted his eyes to the dark sky.
Almost the new moon?
?All we really have to do is take the Shikon no Tama from her-? Sango said, craning her neck a bit to search Kagome?s exposed throat.
?I am almost positive that will wake her up,? Miroku murmured and the exterminator recoiled, backing away. The monk lifted his head toward Inuyasha. ?What are we going to do, Inuyasha? We can?t wait until she wakes up-?
?I don?t know what to do,? Inuyasha cut him off and he lifted a hand to his head, frowning. ?I don?t know-?
Kagome twitched in her sleep bringing the three of them and Kirara as well to a stop.
?It?s so dark,? she whispered faintly and the group drew closer t her, Inuyasha hopping down from the tree into a crouch beside her.
Miroku arched a brow warily.
?I can?t see you?why can?t I see you?? she asked the silent night and she turned her head along the grass, her hand reaching across the grass. ?Why won?t you show yourself??
Sango turned a questioning glance on them. ?Who is she talking to?? she mouthed.
Miroku motioned to his neck, the flat plane of his chest and Sango followed his gesture before looking back toward Kagome.
Half hidden under the haori lay the Shikon no Tama on Kagome?s chest, glittering darkly. But inside the black orb shimmered a small sparkle of white. Sango stared, and beside her Kirara came forth in his small form, whimpering faintly. Sango looked at him as well and suddenly, eyes widening, she looked at Miroku and Inuyasha.
?Midoriko-? she gasped.
And Kagome snapped awake with a cry, rising suddenly on her rear and taking hold of her head in pain.
?Kagome-? Inuyasha said in a stunted breath.
?Matte-? Kagome cried shrilly, her head bowing as she latched onto her temples with clawed fingers. ?Matte! Ikanaide!?
?Kagome!? Inuyasha shouted and he took hold of her wrists, shaking her.
With a sudden cry she threw him off, flinging him sideways. And a moment later, with Inuyasha recovering, she was stood up, resembling a marionette whose strings were being pulled. And the voice that came from her was dark, dreadful.
?You are on thin ice, Priestess!?
With a muffled moan she toppled, falling to her hands and knees, and she began to sob, her head bowing to the ground. ?She isn?t a threat! She?s only-?
Inuyasha crouched beside her once more with a small sound, taking her face between his clawed hands and he shook her, forcing her to look at him through blurred vision. ?Kagome! Listen to me! Listen to me!?
She gazed at him, tears trailing down her face as he came into focus, and she whispered, ?Inuyasha-?
And black power burst from her form, flashing and rupturing and she cried out, sobbing, as the group was scattered before her, as she pitched forward once more to the ground, clutching herself with trembling hands.
?Inuyasha!? she shrieked.
Growling, the hanyou rose once more, his hand automatically going to the Tetsusaiga at his side.
?They?re fighting for her?? Miroku said with a grimace, crouching several feet away.
Kagome rolled onto her side, embracing herself and shaking, black power leaving her frame in small explosions and bursts. ?Ya?mete?? she whispered, and her voice came distorted, guttural and at the same time calmly commanding. Black power streaked over her limbs, causing her to jump and stiffen and she flung her hands out, reaching blindly. ?Karada ga-?
My body?
With a scream she was pulled into the air once more, the Shikon no Tama floating out from under the haori and hanging suspended on the chain around her neck. Inuyasha stared at her, his jaw hanging open as rays of pure white light shone through the black cloudiness in the jewel. And then the blackness swarmed to consume the white, the glow equal parts darkness and light.
?Kagome?? Inuyasha uttered and he threw up his hand as the white light flashed in his direction, into his amber eyes.
?The darkness mirrors the light in her soul,? Miroku murmured, rising and stabbing his staff into the ground before him. He pulled forth a ward, holding it out before himself and praying for a small moment. Then, in a quick gesture, he flung it forth and watched as it came to a stop directly before Kagome?s figure and tore cleanly in half. ?And they are both very powerful.?
?You will release her to me-? Kagome cried but the voice that emerged was black and ugly, wrath twisting it. ?Or I will destroy her body! And then you will have no one, Priestess! No one to control the Shikon no Tama!?
Inuyasha swallowed, a bead of perspiration trailing down his face as black and white light shone through in rays. The light passed over them, peeking and flashing, gentle in the night.
?Shiki,? came another voice, soft but firm, and feminine. ?Should you destroy this body you will have no one near you to control. It would mean your demise as well as mine-?
?But who will it end worse for, Midoriko? For me? Will the world really go on as if I had never stepped in? You know better than I that for the Shikon no Tama to fall into the hands of one not capable of controlling it, it could very well destroy this world you so treasure to protect?? the voice softened into a hiss and for a moment there was nothing but silence, the breeze blowing in the night. Then, faintly, he whispered through Kagome, ?Now give her to me.?
Inuyasha?s eyes widened, his hand lifting automatically. ?No, wait-? he cried.
And after a silent moment that could have only meant a concession, Kagome slumped to her knees, her head falling to her chest, her body pitching face down into the ground.
Inuyasha stared for a silent moment, his hand still held out. And then, slowly, he approached Kagome warily, his free hand lifting to the Tetsusaiga.
On the ground, her head turned to the side, Kagome?s eyes snapped open, blackness swirling there and Sango barely had a moment to scream, ?Inuyasha-?
Sitting up silently Kagome lifted a hand, gesturing, and Inuyasha made a small sound of surprise before he was suddenly lifted and thrown to the ground, slamming into it with a muffled cry.
Miroku took a step but Kagome merely motioned at him to stop, her other hand lifting to him. ?Don?t even think it, Miroku-sama. I can kill you with one blow.?
And the monk came to a stop, his jaw clenching.
To the side Inuyasha slowly rose, his frame trembling and Sango sincerely doubted it shook from fear or weariness. He lifted his head, a growl coming from him as he glared at Kagome and with a furious shout he threw himself forward, coming down before Kagome and taking hold of the haori?s collar. ?Give her back!? he ordered and he shook her as she turned her attention to him, her face darkening. ?Take someone else! Take me! Just leave her-?
?How sickeningly sweet,? she growled and her voice came in that same ugly tone, her face shifting with it and becoming just as terrible. ?But aren?t you the slightest bit late in offering to take her place when you?ve been serving her up for me since the beginning??
Inuyasha stared at her. And he understood then that this was not her. That this had never been her. His lips parted, his heart breaking, and she merely returned the glare, her face becoming proud.
?It isn?t you?? he whispered mournfully.
?Oh, it is,? she replied as if he had asked her about the weather. ?Sometimes it is. And sometimes she retreats and let?s me do all the dirty work. Sometimes she helps me. You always make her angry, but not angry enough to want to kill you once and for all??
Inuyasha listened to him speak, his face blanching as that voice continued to emerge from Kagome?s lips. And he bowed his head, no longer wanting to see it, no longer wanting to hear it. Tears welled up in his eyes but he forced them away, eyes clenching shut. ?Enough. Enough!? he shouted and he shook Kagome for a moment, his face turned away. ?Just?give her back to me??
?Why?? Kagome asked him, leaning into him to whisper in his ear. ?So that you can ignore her as before? Hurt her?? And his voice darkened, almost seductive, ?Take her against her will like that beautiful day you found her with Kouga-?
And with a wrathful shout Inuyasha slammed her to the floor, causing a grimace to cross her face before she suddenly burst into laughter, musical peals of masculine laughter. Inuyasha lifted her and rammed her into the ground once more and she laughed harder, her hands lifting to clutch his wrists as he lifted her yet again.
?Inuyasha!? Miroku shouted at him.
?Give her-? Inuyasha whispered menacingly.
?Why?? she cut him off, her laughter breaking off as well. ?Why?? she demanded again. ?So that it can go back to the way it was before? She doesn?t want that. I don?t want that. And it will never be that way again. You have my word on that. Things?will never?be the same again.?
And suddenly her form became intangible, Inuyasha?s clawed hands phasing clear through her. He hunched, off balance, and she smiled up at him as she vanished into the floor and into darkness.
And all that was left was the same continual masculine laughter, hovering in the blackness of night.
To be continued...
