A Sister's Gift

Chapter 42 – Kagome’s Fight for Her Life

The doors opened, and time seemed to stand still, as two dozen humans pulled a wagon equipped with a massive cage behind them. The beast within, was hidden from view by a curtain of tattered burlap. The fierce snarling could be clearly heard throughout the arena. The cage rocked back and forth as the imprisoned youkai fought to break free.

Sesshomaru stood and howled his rage! He knew what was underneath that tarp and he could not allow Kagome to fight it alone!

When Inuyasha looked over to Sesshomaru, the first thing he saw was that his brother’s eyes were turning red, then his facial features became a bit elongated. Before he could say a word the taiyoukai stood and let loose a horrifying sound that send chills up his spine.

One thing suddenly became clear; Sesshomaru was going to attack.

Inuyasha wasn’t sure what to do! The enemy had not even been unveiled yet. Should he follow him into battle, or try to stop him?

The sound that tore through the arena brought about an immediate silence. Even the raging beast in the cage stopped its thrashing, snarling attempts to free itself. All eyes turned to the source.

Kagome swung around to look up at her enraged mate. She had never seen him like this and it sent a bolt of fear coursing through her veins. He looked so primal. So frightened. Whatever was about to be released to battle with her was definitely something to be feared. One look at Sesshomaru told her all that she needed to know.

She had to do this. She had to. It was her duty to face this youkai, just as those before her. For honor, if nothing else.

Kagome looked to Inuyasha, who seemed on the verge of a breakdown. She knew he was struggling with what to do. He was the key to reaching her mate. She caught his attention, and sent him a pleading look.

He understood.

She had to do this.

Inuyasha stood beside his raging brother. He placed his hands on his shoulders to gain his attention. Not often in his life had he felt fear, but looking into Sesshomaru’s crimson glare made him feel weak in the knees. He was certainly glad the demon had never been that pissed at him.

“Sesshomaru, listen to me. You must give Kagome a chance to do this. She would never forgive you for interfering, and if you don’t calm down, she will never survive. You have to calm down!” Inuyasha pleaded.

Tooru watched and listened as Inuyasha tried to calm the taiyoukai. He was about to stand and give his assistance, but quickly decided against it. For a moment he thought that Sesshomaru was going to lop off the boys head. Reclaiming his seat, the ookami figured it might be best to let the brother handle it.

Inuyasha breathed a sigh of relief when signs of gold began to swim in the deadly crimson eyes of his half-brother. For a second there, he thought he was about to be buzzard meat.

Inuyasha’s words managed to grab that last vestige of consciousness that was Sesshomaru. The beast inside of him had almost taken over, and he wasn’t really sure if he shouldn’t have let it. What the half-breed said was true; however, Kagome needed him to calm down.

He turned away from Inuyasha, and attempted to gather his composure. He had to remain calm, for Kagome. He sat back down, and said, “Inuyasha, know this one thing. If my mate is slain by that creature, hell will have no fury like this Sesshomaru. I will meet my end, but before I do, I will destroy everything in my wake. Flee while you can, my brother.”

His words were chilling, and Inuyasha had no doubt about the truth they held. He sent a concerned look to Tooru, who nodded. They both agreed that if Kagome were to fall, they would waste no time gathering their mates and fleeing for their lives.

She could feel the calmness washing over him. Whatever Inuyasha said, had helped, and she sent her friend a look of gratitude. Apparently that was a sign for everyone to begin again where they left off. The humans once again began un-tethering the caged youkai.

It was strange how these human males were handling this particular youkai. The huge lock on the chain was undone, but the chain itself was not removed. They left it in place as one man picked up a long rope, which he rolled out behind him as they all began to scurry back to the safety of the gate. What were they doing?

The answer soon came and Kagome offhandedly wished she hadn’t asked. Once the men were within safe range of the doors the one holding the rope gave a huge pull, which ripped the covering from the cage.

She had never seen anything like it. She had never even heard of anything like it. It looked almost like a great tail-less tiger, but no fur covered its lean muscular form. Instead it was covered in scales of armor, which moved gracefully as the beast stalked its confined surroundings. The back was as high as her breast! It was a four-legged creature, and all four legs ended in huge razor sharp talons, which scraped against the metal floor of the cage as it turned to glare at her with demonic red eyes. It opened its mouth in a snarl of rage giving her a lovely view of the rows of razor sharp teeth. Two fangs on top, and two on bottom, were so long that they protruded out of the mouth. At the moment it spotted her, the gray of its armor shifted to crimson, immediately alerting one of it’s intentions.

That thing was going to kill her.

The chain around the door of the cage held it momentarily, giving Kagome time to devise a quick attack strategy.

Strategy number one: Run like hell!

Kagome turned and ran as fast as she could. She had to get some space between her and that thing in order to get a clear shot with her bow. She could hear the pounded of the monster as it slammed repeatedly over and over against the door of the cage. Suddenly, the slamming stopped.

That was bad! Very bad! It was free!

She had to take a shot, and she quickly turned to fire. It was coming at her fast! Not straight, but moving from side to side, as if it knew what she planned to do!

Kagome released the arrow, and the flames of purification burned through the air, striking the target, but only serving to nick it in the front shoulder. It barely slowed down as it screamed with the pain of her purity.

Time to run some more!

Kagome had another idea; she had to get to higher ground. Walls? No, to high to climb. She spotted the cage, and rounded her path in order to head for what hopefully would give her the edge she needed. Her feet moved faster that a human could see as Sesshomaru’s demon blood lent her some of his demonic speed.

When she leapt high into the air, she felt the beasts claw rip through her calve. Ignoring the shooting pain she rolled onto the top of the cage, coming to her feet with another arrow notched in the bow. The huge head and front claws pounded on the top of the cage as it made an attempt to grab at her legs. One good jump and it would be joining her.

She had to get closer to the edge in order to get off a good shot. No way could she let it get up here. One step forward and with speed she didn’t think it possessed the beast swept her feet from beneath her. Kagome barely recovered in time to crawl quickly to the other side, It was coming up, and she had no choice except to abandon her post.

Jumping off the other side proved that her humanity certainly remained in tact, because her ankle twisted rather ungracefully and she rolled to the ground.

She was going to die!

Without a second thought Kagome snatched her Katana from her side, just as she rolled onto her back to see the snarling beast dive off of the cage roof above her!

Something happened in that moment. Something she did not understand. A swelling of something from deep within her being. A power she did not know that she possessed. The fury of her attack was awesome in its magnitude, and the beast never stood a chance. The power flowing though Kagome found its outlet through the Katana clenched tightly in her hand, and as she pointed at the youkai it exploded from the blade, disintegrating the creature before her eyes.

Kagome finally allowed herself to fully collapse onto the ground beneath her. “Oh great Kami, I thought I was a goner.” With a huge sigh she decided to stand and get this over with. Her leg hurt terribly, but the gash wasn’t deep At least she was alive.

When the youkai dove off the cage for her, Sesshomaru went into action. His slave bond was holding him, but barely, as his body attempted to morph into his true form. Inuyasha watched in horror as the taiyoukai’s body attempted to change, only to quickly revert back to normal, and then attempt to transform again. He was torn between watching the grizzly scene and watching to see if Kagome survived.

The force of the strange miko energy that blasted the youkai to hell was impressive to say the least. Inuyasha was awe struck, momentarily forgetting the barely contained fury of his writhing brother at his feet.

His mouth spoke the words without even realizing they had slipped out. “She did it.” As the shock began to pass, his excitement began to build. A smile curved his lips, “SHE DID IT!!! She fuck’n kicked its ass! She did it!”

Inuyasha’s words managed to break through to Sesshomaru’s clouded mind. He managed to grab Inuyasha’s ankle, drawing the hanyou’s attention. “Ka...gome,... she... lives?”

“YES! She’s alive Sesshomaru! She let loose something I’ve never seen, and blasted that bastard straight to hell! Kagome’s alive!” Inuyasha shouted excitedly as he leaned to help Sesshomaru up.

Kagome quickly bowed to the royalty booth. The clapping hands of the spectator’s in the arena were almost deafening, but none of that mattered to her.

Sesshomaru was in pain.

As fast as her feet would carry her, Kagome ran for the doors. She had to get to her mate. She had to remove his pain. In mere moments she arrived by his side, and gave the command needed. “EXCUSE, oh Kami, I Excuse you, my love!”

Immediately the pain was ended. He could breath again, and reached to his mate and crushed her to his chest. He had never been so thankful for anything in his entire lifetime.

‘She lives!’