Chapter 4 - Cat demons and Kikyo

Chapter 4-Cat demons and Kikyo

Inuyasha sat on the forest floor in a small clearing he had found, he licked at a particularly deep cut on his arm and whimpered every now and again. The sun was just setting and Inuyasha looked up in alarm, sure enough as the sun set Inuyasha began to transform until he was nothing more than a mortal, defenceless and injured.

Clearly trying to remain calm the mortal Inuyasha gathered fallen branches and twigs before trying to set them alight, smoke rose from the pile of wood but flames never burst forth so eventually, bone-weary, Inuyasha gave up and lay down to sleep.

As Sesshoumaru watched the night passed without incident, it was almost dawn when he smelt the strong scent of a pack of cat-demons; groaning he wondered why Inuyasha didn’t awaken, and then he remembered that mortals couldn’t smell as well as demons.

Seven powerful cat-demons stalked out of the shadows surrounding Inuyasha’s sleeping form, they communicated silently through hand-signals as they got closer and closer.

As one they pounced, immediately Inuyasha was awake but it was too late, he was held firmly by two of the stronger demons; the leader, evident by his fine silk kimono and long tabby tail stood arrogantly before him.

“Well little mortal, what have we here?”

“I am no mortal, and are you going to be sorry when morning comes. I can smell the dawn.” Although Inuyasha’s words were brave he still trembled.

The laughter of the cat-demon pack echoed in the small clearing as the first of the sun’s rays crept over the horizon; Inuyasha’s claws grew, his fangs elongated and his hair changed colour; he growled loudly.

“A filthy mongrel!”

The cats hissed and the two holding Inuyasha scratched him viciously with their claws, their tails lashed and they crouched preparing to pounce and kill.

The leader, his face twisted with the loathing that all cat-demons and dog-demons feel for one another ordered them harshly to wait.

“For too many long years we have lived in these forests, outlawed by the so called Lord of these lands. Now we have one of his own kind, a dog here in our midst, we can make an example of him – and have our fun.”

The gleam in the leader’s eyes made Sesshoumaru feel sick to the stomach as he stood watching the events unfold, the smiles on the faces of the other members of the group left little to the imagination.

Inuyasha struggled violently as his kimono was torn from him leaving his bruised and injured body bare in the morning sunlight, one of the group closest to him gave him a violent kick to stop him struggling; the crunch of ribs was clearly audible.

Inuyasha struggled more violently, tears were streaking down his face and blood ran freely down his body; he was trembling fiercely as he fell to his knees.

Two of the group pulled him roughly to his feet as two others held him to make sure he could not escape, the leader of the pack walked round the back of Inuyasha his eyes gleaming with a predator’s lust.

As the leader of the cat-demons began to violate Inuyasha Sesshoumaru turned away and covered his ears trying to block out the moans and screams of his half-brother.

“Let me out of here.” Sesshoumaru’s voice was pleading and his voice cracked. “I don’t want my answers, don’t make me watch this.”

His only answer was the tortured screams of Inuyasha.

Hours passed the sun rose in the sky and fell again behind the hills before the cat-demon group had all been satisfied; now they left him, trembling, crying and injured.

Inuyasha’s dog-ears twitched as he heard another approaching, his sense of smell told him in was a mortal girl; he barely had the strength to raise himself up but with an effort he made it to his feet.

A young girl entered the clearing and at the sight of the half demon cocked an arrow in the bow she carried on her back; Inuyasha remembered her from somewhere but he couldn’t think where.

“You have made a mistake coming to this village demon, I am the priestess Kikyo and I protect these people.”

To her obvious surprise Inuyasha fell to his knees in front of her letting the tears flow once again.

“Kill me now.” His voice was hoarse with screaming and his eyes were full of pain.

Kikyo lowered her bow and moved cautiously to him, she snaked one arm around his waist and helped him to his feet; slowly the two walked away into the forest.