To Thine Own Self - Chap 5

[Lockon S.]

Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I didn?t own anything related to Inu Yasha. The characters created for this fanfic are mine and may not be used without my permission.

My hat's off to those of you who waited. My education took its toll on me for the last four months. Enjoy ^_*


<b>Chapter 5:</b> The Rouge

It was almost like last time. Almost? Supported by his friends, all Inu Yasha had to do was look forward. Before Kikyo, being alone was like standing in an empty room. The still air was felt from all sides. As much he looked forward, Inu Yasha would find himself looking backwards. Every now and then as he looked back, he hoped someone might be there. Unlike last time, Inu Yasha was walking away from everything he held dear. <i>It?s necessary</i> he kept telling himself, but this mysterious pain he felt refused to fade. Inu Yasha could sense something had been torn from his chest. In hindsight, it was something he should?ve expected. He could sense something else within the pain. He had never felt it before, but it was there. As Inu Yasha darted through the trees, his steps were faster.

Inu Yasha bolted through the tree tops at full speed, making sure to get away from the aura-sensing monk and the demon-tracking slayer. His heightened senses scanned every sound, every scent, every shimmer. Far from the village, Inu Yasha noted a change in the wind, and the strange scent that followed with it. As Inu Yasha began to study it, the wind grew in strength. It was the scent of unfamiliar demon accompanied by a completely foreign aura. The aura around the scent sharp, fresh, and had no weight whatsoever. This aura was from a place with large amounts of water and rock. The scent of grave soil was absent, but Inu Yasha could trace the feint scent of burning flesh.

The wind?s strength exploded ferociously, blasting the treetops and knocking Inu Yasha out of the air. Inu Yasha noticed his calmness, and the increased focus and awareness. He dug his claws into a tree as he passed by to slow his descent. He landed hard and slid backwards, tearing up brush and dirt as he went. He finished the short slide with a back flip, letting the tree behind him absorb the last of his momentum? as force strong enough to crack its base.

Landing softly, Inu Yasha?s eyes quickly darted over immediate scenery. There was no need to draw Tessaiga just yet. No one was close by, and his nose confirmed that. The scent in that blast wave indicated a distance of at least two or more miles. For a moment, his subconscious reveled in the power necessary for such a blast. Without hesitation, Inu Yasha leapt towards the direction of the blast, his mind set to one thought: Pursuit.

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This is a definition of devastation: an entire army of demons slain in one blow. They numbered one thousand three hundred and ten. They were detected before the blow, and their individual deaths noted during the blast. Smoldering corpses of demons littered a huge crater and many more scattered amongst burnt trees. The ground was charged with demonic energy that arced over the bodies and the ground.

At dead center of the crater, a single figure rose. He wore sandals and a white robe much like Inu Yasha?s hinezumi. His short, spiked hair was white as snow and his eyes were a blue as deep as the sea. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Though he had time to prepare, the technique used a great deal of his energy. The fight wasn?t over though. There was one more coming. Whoever it is possesses a great deal of power.

It was unlikely this half-demon was just dropping in to say hello.

He emerged from the distant tree line walking at a slow pace. He had golden eyes and long-silver hair. He wore a red robe similar to his own but walked barefooted. The half-demon?s sword was something of note. The sheath was a seal the likes of which never seen before. He stopped and looked around at the recent carnage. Closing to audible range, he returned his attention to matter ahead of him. Before his lips began moving, it was clear his eyes were preparing for battle.

?Name?s Inu Yasha.?
?Tenkuu.?
"This your doing?"
"They attacked me."
"Demons have been running amok around here. Why would that be?"
"I am just as you are... half-breed, powerful. I am hated and coveted."
"Is that so? Word was you were after them for something."
"Don't believe everything you hear."

Inu Yasha draws his sword maintaining his relaxed appearance. The instant the sheath released the blade Tenkuu knew exactly what it was. Forged by a master smith, this blade wielded the power of heaven and hell itself.

?Let?s do this.?

Inu Yasha?s charge took only seconds. Tessaiga fell on Tenkuu forbidding any escape. As the fang was about to crush his body, Tenkuu caught the sword with his bare hands.

?This will be difficult??

?Wind Scar.?

Tenkuu watched in horror as the sword used its own aura to create a fissure ahead of the edge. It was then Tenkuu released the sword?s design. As Tessaiga cut down on the fissure, black energy outlined by a violet aura swirled in front of his forehead. For all the energy he could muster in an instant, it was just enough to divide the wind scar and avoid being split in two. They slid away from each other, regained their ground, and readied to attack.

"A sword that cuts. Though it sounds simple, its implied abilities would be quite fearsome. Why did you attain this power?"
"To protect those most precious to me."
"And you believe I threaten them?"
"If I am to face them again. I must become stronger. I have to do this."
"You should return to them. If you are willing to give your life for them, then there is no reason to be ashamed."
?It?s none of your business anyways. I won?t let you wreak anymore havoc.?

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?How will you find him??

Miroku?s question had more than one meaning to it. What he was really trying to say was it was too dangerous to go herself. Convincing Kagome of that would be like telling her to stop breathing.

Kagome ignored Miroku?s concerned tone, speed-walking from one end of the hut to the other grabbing supplies and packing them into her bag.

?Isn?t it obvious? That wind that blew through here wasn?t natural.?
?That blast came from several miles away.?

Kagome hooked her bow over her shoulder and began loading arrows into her quiver. She quickly checked and counted each arrow, then carried the quiver over to her backpack.

?That means I?ll have to move quickly.?
?Kagome.?

Kagome hefts her backpack over her shoulders and then her quiver. Never breaking her pace, she turns for the door.

?Do you expect me to wait for him? That?s like asking me not to breathe!?

Kagome stops in front of Miroku who is standing at the door. With a determined glare, she asks a question that she already has the answer to.

?Would you do the same for Sango??

It was only a brief pause. Just enough time to remind Miroku how logic and rational thought are abandoned at a time like this.

?Let us depart then. We have a long way to go.?