Cursed

A/N: Yeah, yeah, yeah....I know. Long time no update. I have no excuse and humbly throw myself at your feet and grovel for forgiveness. This story isn't dead (neither is Space Hanyou, for those who are interested) but it has been sleeping! I promise it will be done soon! Only a couple chapters to go! And I must give props to Maxv...who has translated Cursed into Russian and posted it on a Russian fan site. You. Rock. I can't even think about how much work that must have been. Big plate of gratitude cookies for you!!!

Inuyasha glared as the tall young man approached. "One does not sully the beauty of such a rose with coarse handling," the young man said lightly. "You will apologize for your insults to Akane Tendo."

Akane Tendo seemed to be trying to hide behind him, Inuyasha thought. The girl's face was bright red, a blush of pure embarrassment. "Kuno," she said at last. "Now is not the best time."

Oblivious to the young girl's discomfort, Kuno smiled patronizingly at her. "Sweet Akane, I would never allow you to suffer the insults of such rabble. I must defend your honor, my love."

"I'm not your love," Akane hissed, ducking out from behind Inuyasha. "Why don't you ever listen to me?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha said, trying to help. "You should listen to the wench, she ain't asking you for help, asshole."

"You shut up," Akane barked, sounding much like Kagome when she was in a particularly foul temper. "You aren't helping anything by running your stupid mouth."

"Don't call me stupid, bitch!"

Kuno couldn't take it anymore. "You will not speak to Akane Tendo like that, not and keep your life!" He drew a shiny katana from its sheath and gave Inuyasha a challenging stare. "I see you also carry a blade," he sneered. "I challenge you to a duel of honor. You will pay!"

Inuyasha scratched his ear, one of the reasons he hated wearing the hat was that it made his ears itch and muffled all the sounds. "He's not serious, is he?"

Akane sighed. "I'm afraid so. I'm really sorry about this, Inuyasha."

"It's okay," the hanyou sighed. It seemed like nothing was ever going to go smoothly for him. It would have been too much to ask just to simply get the sword and make it back down the well without incident. Wearily, he drew Tetsusaiga. "Okay, jackass. Whatever you want."

Kuno stared at the rusted blade. "You're going to fight with that useless piece of junk?" he demanded, deeply insulted at the very idea of crossing blades with such trash. "It wouldn't even cut paper."

"I know what it looks like," Inuyasha snapped, aware that he himself had made the same mistake when he'd first seen his father's sword. Why Totosai and the old man had created something that looked like a discarded antique that any self respecting bandit wouldn't even pick up, he had no idea. And he didn't care either, as long as it did what it was supposed to.

Kuno's expression was distasteful. "I am embarrassed that I even challenged you."

Inuyasha flushed, out of patience with this human's insults and challenges. "I don't know who you think you are, bastard," he growled. "But I'm starting to like the idea of teaching you a lesson."

Kuno smirked, catching Akane's eye with a confident wink. "I am Tatewaki Kuno, kendo champion of Furinkan High and master of the blade. My peers call me the Blue Thunder and you have made a grave mistake by invoking my wrath." The young man reached into a pocket and threw a rose at Inuyasha's feet.

The hanyou just stared at him, his annoyance forgotten even. "Is he always like this?" he asked.

"Pretty much," Akane sighed. This was going to get ugly. "Kuno, please," she said, trying once again to reason with a moron. "Inuyasha doesn't want to hurt you."

"Hell if I don't," the hanyou muttered. "I'm just in a hurry to get back to Kagome, I don't have time to waste on this idiot."

"Fear not for me, sweet Akane," Kuno answered with a cavalier gleam in his eye. "I will defend you and put this ruffian in his place. Be on your guard, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha readied himself for the blow, the young man came at him swiftly, executing a perfect textbook stance and admirable footwork. Inuyasha found himself pressed to meet each skillful blow, half wondering how much damage he would have to give the young swordsman to get him to back off. His moves were clumsy compared to Kuno's, bringing his sword up to meet Kuno as if he was more accustomed to fencing with tree branches. Finally, Kuno got close enough to actually touch him, his katana making a merry slash that ripped open Inuyasha's sleeve.

Kuno spun around gracefully and offered a condescending smile. "Do you concede?" he asked arrogantly, taking in the flash of anger in the young man's strange golden eyes.

"No," Inuyasha answered. "I'm not conceding. I'm just getting started." He willed a pulse of energy to ignite Tetsusaiga's true form. Kuno stepped back in shock as the deceptive blade suddenly tripled in size, becoming insanely huge and glowing with malevolence. "Still want to take me on, Blue Thunderbutt? Inuyasha taunted.

Kuno's eyes flashed angrily, gripping the hilt of his own katana. "I'm not backing down," he muttered, meeting Inuyasha's eyes with angry challenge. "It's not the size that matters, it's your skill with the blade!"

"Figures you'd say something like that," Akane murmured, sitting down on a nearby bench. She held Ranma's mother's sword tight in her hands. "Inuyasha, don't play around," she snapped peevishly. "We've got to find Ranma!"

Inuyasha just smirked and brought the blade down in a powerful strike, shaking the ground under them like a small earthquake. Kuno stood frozen, a hot angry wind tore at his hair and he sensed that if anything, the strange looking young man was holding back the sword more than actually using it. He dropped back, crouching as he held his blade in a defensive stance. "You can't intimidate the Blue Thunder!" he shouted.

"No, but I can kill it," Inuyasha answered gleefully.

Akane was horrified and jumped to her feet. "Inuyasha, don't you dare kill him!" she screamed. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm done playing nice, bitch," he snarled, showing Kuno his fangs at last. "You're more arrogant than even Sesshomaru," the hanyou grinned. "But at least he's got something to back up that mouth. I'm going to enjoy cutting you into little pieces." Tetsusaiga flashed forward, moving like a lightning strike and Kuno suddenly found himself holding half a sword. The glowing monster had cut his katana's blade like it was soft butter, Kuno actually saw melted steel on the hilt. His eyes were full of the glowing energy and he dropped to his knees, expecting his execution now that he knew he wasn't going to survive. His last thought was only regret that he'd never gotten any further with the pigtailed girl. He closed his eyes.

"Inuyasha, no!" Akane screamed as the hanyou ran forward swinging the blade down in a killing stroke. Annoying as Kuno was, Akane didn't want to see him killed, not over something so stupid. Wild thoughts raced in her head and she wondered if Naraku's spell had truly been lifted from the half demon, his eyes were glowing with a manic joy as he made ready to separate Kuno's head from his body. Her hands went to her mouth in horror and Akane couldn't look away as Inuyasha attacked.

The hanyou suddenly stopped his headlong run, driving Tetsusaiga into the sidewalk just in front of where Kuno was kneeling and struck the young man a savage blow with his fist instead. Kuno sprawled unconscious, a thin trickle of blood leaking from his mouth. Inuyasha turned to Akane with a purely demonic smile. "What? You didn't really think I'd kill him over that, did ya?"

She sighed and grabbed a handful of white hair. "Come on, you idiot. You're every bit as bad as Ranma. I can totally believe that you're related now."

Snickering, the hanyou followed her. "I don't deserve to be insulted like that. At least I'm not the one in love with him."

"Who said I was in love with Ranma?" the girl seethed. "You've got a lot of nerve making assumptions like that, dog boy."

"Oooohh," he said mockingly, taking her arm and pulling her along when she didn't walk fast enough for him. "I think someone's a little bit touchy. You think I've missed the big cow eyes you give him when he's not looking?"

Akane yanked her arm out of his hold. "What about you?" she shot back. "You think I'm blind, I see the way you look at Kagome."

"That's got nothing to do with it," he answered hotly, his cheeks turning red.

"Oooohh," she answered, her eyes glinting. "Now who's touchy?"

"Shut up, you don't know anything," Inuyasha sneered.

"I know more than you, dummy!"

"You're the dummy, you shut up about it!"

Akane laughed. "Oh come on, Inuyasha. Can't you tell I'm teasing you?"

He whirled around, scooping her up sword and all and tossing her over his shoulder. "You talk too much."

Giggling, she beat on his shoulder as he walked quickly to the shrine. "Put me down, you big oaf! People are going to stare at us. I live in this neighborhood you know."

"Then they won't wonder why," he grinned and even went so far as to slap her on her rump. "Hey," she protested, struggling against him now. "Don't get touchy feely with me!"

"You call that touchy feely?" Inuyasha was having fun teasing Akane. When they'd first met, he had thought her a little humorless, so serious and grim about helping Ranma with his curse. Now that he'd seen the real Akane, he guessed she was more than a match for Ranma. He flicked a claw against the back of her thigh and was rewarded with a squeal of outrage. "Never argue with the guy who's got the bigger claws," he advised.

Akane snickered and took Nodoka's sword both hands and brought it down with a sharp smack on the hanyou's ass. "Put me down or you're gonna get it!"

"Wench," he growled playfully. "If you do that one more time I'm going to give you a real spanking you won't forget."

"I'd like to see you try it," she taunted back.

With a grunt, he slid her from her shoulder, grabbing the katana in one hand and her wrist in the other as he hauled her over to a bench. "I didn't wanna have to do this," he said, sounding tired.

"Inuyasha, stop," she begged, half laughing as he pulled her across his knees. "Don't you dare!"

Vaguely, he wondered where the hell he was going with this, Akane's body was soft across his legs and he suddenly blushed when he realized what Kagome would think if she could see him. "Uhhh," he said, hesitating.

"Get your damn hands off her," a voice bellowed and Inuyasha suddenly found himself thrown on the ground with a flurry of hard strikes to his face. He threw up both hands to fend off his attacker, rolling on the ground and coming up with Tetsusaiga drawn and ready. His nose twitched and he faced the furious young man, feeling anger starting to boil up in his body at the strange but familiar scent. "Who the fuck are you?"

Akane was clinging to the young man's arm, holding him back. "Ryoga, knock it off! He's a friend!"

Ryoga pushed her behind him. "Didn't look too friendly to me," he growled. "I won't forgive you for striking my Akane!"

"Your Akane," Inuyasha echoed, staring at Ryoga with undisguised disgust. "Wench, how many guys do you have chasing you anyway?"

"Ryoga doesn't chase me," she snapped, planting her hands on her hips. "He's just a friend!"

Inuyasha didn't miss the shudder that went through the young man's body at her words. Ouch, he winced in sympathy. He abruptly felt sorry for the poor guy and lowered his sword. An aura of profound depression was starting to surround Ryoga's body and Inuyasha's ears twitched, feeling something building. "Ah damn it," the hanyou muttered.

A blast took him off his feet and Inuyasha lay on his back looking at the sky. "No human should be able to focus ki like that," he muttered. "I shoulda trusted my goddamn nose." He jumped to his feet, annoyed the punk had knocked him on his ass twice already and he hadn't even done anything wrong. Tetsusaiga pulsed to life in his fist. "I've had enough of this shit, Akane," he snarled, advancing on Ryoga with murderous intent in his eyes. "Every five minutes somoene is trying to kick my ass, what the hell is going on? You got some kinda curse yourself, the kind that makes trouble follow you around?"

"You should talk," Akane yelled, shoving Ryoga out of the way. "Ever since Kagome took us through the well someone has been attacking us! You can't tell me Naraku never would have gotten his hands on Ranma if he wasn't already coming after you!"

"Akane?" Ryoga looked confused. "Who is this guy...he's got dog ears!"

Inuyasha slapped his hand on his head, realizing that Ryoga's attack had blown his hat off. "Fuck you," he snarled at Ryoga. "Don't pretend you don't know a hanyou when you see one, I can smell the wolf demon blood in your veins!"

"The what?" Ryoga exclaimed. The guy was crazy, that much was obvious. First he was dressed like a reject from a samurai movie, he had a bizarrely huge sword that glowed like a tiny sun, his hair was well past his ass and he was going on about hanyou and demons. Ryoga threw a protective arm around Akane, backing them well away from the nutcase. "Akane, what psycho ward did this guy escape from? Was he trying to kidnap you?"

"No," she said wearily, hoping he'd listen better than Kuno had. "He's trying to help me, Ranma's in trouble and Inuyasha is our friend who..."

The pavement shattered and Akane squealed as she dodged chunks of cement. Inuyasha had brought Tetsusaiga down in an angry blow that shook the street and sent cracks running in every direction. "For the last time," he snarled, his eyes glinting. "I am NOT that punk's friend!"

At this rate, they were going to have to repave most of Nerima, she decided, looking around her as people were stopping to stare. "I'm sorry, Ryoga," she said, tugging at his arm. "We have to go, I don't have time to explain."

"You aren't going anywhere with that asshole," Ryoga said, looking down at her with concern. "He's nuts, did you see what he just did? He'll hurt you."

"The hell I will," Inuyasha yelled, sliding his sword back into its sheath. Ryoga's eyes boggled as the six foot plus blade went neatly into an impossibly small container. "You're the only one I'm going to hurt, wolf demon."

Akane was at the end of her strength, she just couldn't take it any longer, how long had it been since she slept? The girl burst into tears, sobbing into her palms from frustration. Ryoga blushed, looking embarrassed. "Don't cry," he begged. He couldn't stand it when she cried.

"I have to save Ranma," she wailed. "He's in real trouble, don't you get it? He's going to die, he's going to kill people, torture people, and he'll get himself killed if I can't get this katana to him in time to break the spell."

"You stay here," Inuyasha said gruffly, feeling pity for the distraught girl. "I'll get the damn sword to him, I promise it will be okay."

She clutched the scabbard to her chest, frantically shaking her head. "No, I have to go to him, I'm the only one he'll listen to, Inuyasha!"

"I'll go with you," Ryoga said at last. He couldn't keep her from going to Ranma, he knew her that well. And he couldn't just let her go off with her insane looking new 'friend' either. Akane looked over at Inuyasha, who just shrugged. "Like I give a damn," he muttered. "Let's just go."

*****

Sango looked around her, glad to see the village coming into view. Hopefully they'd have a chance to rest a bit before Inuyasha and Akane returned. She hoped Kagome's friend was right in her assumption that it wouldn't take long, if everything Naota had told them was true, Ranma was in serious danger.

And so was everyone else, the slayer shuddered at the idea of the kind natured young demon being used for mayhem and destruction. And destruction it would be, Ranma had proven himself to be a powerful inuyoukai. However he'd been afraid of his growing strength, and his diminishing humanity, she felt as a slayer she couldn't in conscience allow him to continue as he was. She and Miroku had a quiet discussion when Kagome wasn't listening. If Ranma couldn't be saved, they understood what needed to be done. Sango hoped it wouldn't happen. Kagome would feel terribly responsible and Akane would be devastated. She sighed, not wanting to cause pain to the friendly girl, but this was what she had been trained all her life to do.

Kirara's paws touched down on the soft grass with barely a whisper and Sango leaned over to dismount, only to find someone's wandering hand had been awaiting just such an opportunity. This time he had the nerve to give her a squeeze and a pinch! With an almost demonic snarl of anger, Sango whirled around and decked the monk, her strong hand leaving an imprint of her fury on his face. "Damn you, Miroku," she snarled, angered to the point of using his given name instead of his title. "With everything that's going on you still can't keep that hentai hand to yourself?"

He rubbed his face, looking amused as always. He must really love pain, Sango thought with disgust. "In case you've forgotten," she said waspishly, "we are trying to stop Naraku and there's every chance that it will be dangerous."

"Exactly, my dear Sango," Miroku answered calmly. "If we are to face a great battle, I wish to remind myself what we're fighting for."

"We are not fighting for my ass," Sango yelled, her fists clenched.

His eyes twinkled at her. "I'd say it's definitely worth fighting for."

Kagome sighed. "Please," she said, sounding ages older than she was. "Can't you stop fighting for now? I'm really to tired to listen to it."

"Kagome, are you okay?" Shippo asked anxiously. He clung to her as the girl dismounted the fire-neko and headed for the path that would take her down to the village. Oh what she wouldn't give to go the other direction and hop down the well. She would like to sleep for about three days, the girl mused. After taking the longest, hottest shower in the history of Tokyo. Maybe that would get the creepy crawly sensation out of her skin or drive away the hateful memory of Naraku's laughter. She hugged the little kitsune tight. "I'm okay, Shippo," she said at last, stroking his soft hair to soothe herself. She was so glad that the fox hadn't seen the way Inuyasha had turned on her, threatened her, hurt her. She didn't think that Shippo would be so willing to forgive it, not even if it was Naraku's doing. It was going to be hard enough for her to deal with.

In all the time she'd spent in the Sengoku Jidai, fighting the monsters and evil demons who preyed upon humans, she'd never felt so close to actual physical danger. Not the kind where she could be killed as much as the part where she was dealing with something that really, truly wanted to cause her pain. Just for the fun of it. Before, she'd always been defiant, like it wasn't real. Part of it was because before she'd had Inuyasha to protect her. Even from the beginning, when he'd hated her just for smelling the least like Kikyo, he'd protected her. Almost like it was a helpless instinct he couldn't resist. It had nothing to do with the rosary, Kagome thought. Oh sure, he'd said it was because of the jewel, his own motives at the time. And she'd thought that meant there was something more to him, she'd known it, more than just a violent brat of a half demon. Now that she'd seen his other side, she wasn't sure she could be so sure.

Don't be stupid, Kagome, she told herself. It's not his fault, he didn't know who he was, he didn't know who you were, it was all part of Naraku's deception. That wasn't the real Inuyasha, that wasn't the real Ranma, so you've got to put it behind you.

Only, what if she was the one who was wrong? She'd seen his full demon side before, it scared the living hell out of her, but she got past it. He had a harder time with what he'd done. She'd seen too many dark memories haunting those golden eyes, too much...shame. Kagome bowed her head as she walked, still absently stroking Shippo's hair. She did not want to tell anyone what had happened, not because of her feelings, she knew she could deal with it. But, oh my god, Kagome thought, wincing as a tear dripped down her cheek. Inuyasha wouldn't get over it, he'd never forgive himself...for striking her, enjoying it. For making her terrified of him, for trying to hurt her and for almost....

Stop it, she told herself. Don't think about it, it was not INUYASHA!

Shippo could smell Kagome's tears and felt the tension riding her arms as she carried him. Something very bad had happened, he knew it. Something more profound than a hurt shoulder or some bruises. Shippo felt the hackles stand up on the back of his neck. He understood better than most what real demons were like and the little fox felt a tiny growl starting in his chest. They all seemed forget about that, that he was a real demon too. Just because he was young and not as powerful as Inuyasha or as smart as Miroku or as skilled as Sango, didn't mean he wouldn't die to protect Kagome. She was everything to him, surrogate mother, protector and friend, comfort when he'd lost everything else. That was part of the reason he fought so much with the hanyou over everything from ramen noodles to who got the last piece of fish. It was competition.

Shippo leaned his head against the girl's shoulder and closed his eyes. Competition...it was the bane of demon nature. He knew that Kagome loved him and that she also loved Inuyasha. To a certain extent it was sibling rivalry, both of them competing for the alpha female's attention. He'd been a bit leery of Miroku for the same reason, seeing the human male as a threat to what was working out to be a fine foster family. Shippo grinned, as if the monk had ever had a chance. The stupid dog was good for that much at least, that and keeping other demons like that wolf Koga at bay. He wondered if Kagome understood that and guessed not because she seemed to encourage the wolf demon every time they ran across him, making Inuyasha even more angry and jealous. Did she do that on purpose, he wondered, his tail twitching as she carried him down to the village. Maybe. Maybe not.

He'd be a strong demon someday, Shippo was sure of it. Most other demons thought that kitsune were playthings at best, devious little tricksters at worst. Not honorable youkai capable of defending their homes and families, just silly little forest dwellers. They would discount kitsune blood as trivial. That Namichi woman had seemed honorable and she hadn't looked at him like he was just a silly fox. She was half kitsune herself and she said it with pride. Now he found out that not only was she that, she had been strong enough to matter to someone like Sesshomaru. That astonished him and not just because the Tai-Youkai terrified him. Shippo was sad that she had been killed, he was glad he hadn't seen it happen. He was glad he hadn't seen Inuyasha attack her, having been knocked unconscious by the same blow that had stunned Akane. He was glad that he hadn't seen Ranma murder her either. Kagome had tried to keep it quiet when she'd told Sango and Miroku the details, but he'd listened anyway. Shippo snuggled tighter against Kagome for comfort, he was glad Kagome hadn't met the same fate.

Sango stopped when they reached the village, her eyes going wide. Something was very wrong. She looked back at Miroku, seeing the same shocked look on his face. "Houshi-sama?"

"I see it, Sango," he ground out, his fingers clenching on his staff and a hardness settling in his eyes.

Kagome stopped too, looking up at her friends with confusion. "What?" she asked, not understanding, not seeing, partially due to her exhausted state and also her distraction. "What's the matter?"

Miroku gestured at the village, waving his staff to indicate something out of place in the sight before her. Kagome looked carefully, everything seemed exactly as the last time she'd seen it, nothing was out of place, not so much as a single wooden hut looked damaged. It was quiet and calm, just like she'd expected. Then like a thunderbolt out of the sky, like a hammer to the skull, it hit her.

"Where are all the people?" she whispered. There should be villagers about, working the fields, tending the fires, children chasing each other around the the homes and old aunties sitting in the sun. The village was completely deserted, not so much as a stray chicken pecked its way in the hard dirt.

Kirara roared suddenly, a challenging sound and Sango yanked Hiraikotsu from her shoulder, her eyes wide and searching around her. "Go Kagome!" she shouted, looking over her shoulder and into the forest, searching for a nameless threat. "Go to the well, go get Inuyasha!"

Miroku grabbed her shoulder and shoved her hard. "Go, damn it! Whatever it is, we'll try to hold it until you get back."

Kagome didn't need to be told again, she dropped Shippo like his soft fur had burned her and ran for it. Whatever had happened, whatever instinct her friends were acting on, it made dread rise like bile in her throat. She ran faster, heading for the well. She knew where Akane lived, surely Inuyasha and her friend would be coming back, they should be back very soon. How long had the village been like this, she wondered frantically as she plowed through the forest. How long since Inuyasha and Akane had left? They wouldn't have gone if there'd been a problem at the village, would they? Not when they needed to make every second count, did they even stop at the village? She had no way of knowing but Kagome felt anger and grief clenching her heart as she raced home.

The well, it was there. All she had to do was jump inside, it would take her home to safety, home to her mother's house where nothing wrong could ever touch her. And Inuyasha was there, she felt it so certain. Kagome slowed as she made for the well, readying her legs for the jump that always seemed endless. What kind of trust did it take to leap between worlds and through time? She didn't know, but she knew right down to her little pinkies that the well would open for her, there was no doubt at all. She jumped.

And was plucked out the air as neatly as if she were a songbird caught by a falcon. All the air in Kagome's lungs exhaled in a whoosh as a hard arm connected with her torso, painful against her already sore ribs and she was swung like a rag doll in his grasp. Her hands instinctively reached out, finding his face even as he landed on the soft grass, moving gracefully, like a dancer almost in an elegant display of skilled movement. She found herself held firmly against a rock hard chest, arms like steel crushing the small bones of her back in a grip intimate and cruel.

Funny, all she could think of was that his eyes were supposed to be blue, not raging scarlet fire. The dark slit pupils contracted as his lips widened in a predatory grin, showing fangs twice as long as they should have been.

"Hello there, Kagome," Ranma said, his nose only inches from hers. His tongue slipped out and licked a hot trail from her jaw to the top of her cheekbone. "It's so nice to see you again."