Monday, July 11, 2005

Author’s note
Concerns were raised about Kikyo’s behavior in the last episode. I feel it is important to emphasize that she did not accept Miroku’s offer. When Inuyasha found him, the monk was sitting alone, having been rejected and hit, fantasying about Kikyo.
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Sunday, July 10, 2005

Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears.
Granted, I know that some of you are not my countrymen, and I don’t think any of you are Romans, but you are my friends. I have written another fanfic. It will not be posted on my site so as to not interrupt my on going story. To see it, go to Fulfill Writers It’s called Inugenesis. Read it if you have a chance.
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No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 10*

All eyes turn to Kagome as she draws another arrow. This one she points at Yuukanmaru. She says, “Drop’em! Let Inuyasha go now!” He says, “If you have heard a word I have said, you know I cannot. As he said, I have my orders.” The muscles of his demon arms tense as he prepares to cut. Kagome lets fly her arrow. As the sacred arrow sweeps him aside, Yuukanmaru smiles and Kagome cries. Kagome rushes to Inuyasha’s side. He gestures that he’s ok, and Kagome stops and looks down, very sadly. Kagura says, “Kagome, it was what he wanted, trust me. You did the right thing.” Kagome and Inuyasha turn to look at the demoness…Inuyasha stares for a half-second before looking away in embarrassment. Kagura has stood up and is trying in vain to keep her tattered kimono on. Kagome thinks for a minute, then has an idea. Her usual chipper attitude restored, Kagome says, “Inuyasha stay put and don’t even think about looking.” She grabs her bag and Kagura’s wrist and pulls them both toward the nearest cluster of bushes. Several minutes later, Kagome calls, “Ok Inuyasha, you can look now; what do you think?” He hesitantly turns toward them and this time he stares openly. Kagura is dressed in knee-socks, a mini-skirt, a white and green sailor blouse, and is wearing a red neckerchief. In short, Kagome has dressed her in her spare school uniform. Clearly embarrassed, Kagura turns away from Inuyasha’s stare. He isn’t watching her legs, in particular, but the entire ensemble is so bizarre on her that he is dazed. Eventually, Kagome gives him a small punch on the arm to bring him back to reality. She says, “Her clothes were ruined and neither of you carry extra. It’s all we have; besides, she looks cute in a sailor-suite. Now, let’s go get Miroku.” Less then an hour latter the trio arrive at the forest surrounding the shrine. Kagura guilds the feather along the path, landing at the shelter. Seeing that the monk isn’t there, but his belongings are, the girls look at Inuyasha expectantly. “What?” he asks. Kagura says, “It’s a spring.” Kagome says, “If he’s bathing, we don’t want to see him.” “Oh.” he says. He heads towards the waterfall.
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No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 11*

“Would you bear my child…lady Kikyo?”
She hesitates for a moment, then nods her assent. Miroku’s arms surround her; their hungry mouths press against each other. As the pounding of the waterfall forms a backdrop, their hands roam, each seeking the other’s flesh, concealed by priestly garments not crafted with this in mind. As they work to rectify their lack of exposed skin, Miroku hears the half-demon, “Miroku! Hey Miroku! Wake up!” Miroku says, “I am awake Inuyasha, I was…meditating.” The monk is sitting, facing the waterfall, Inuyasha is behind him. Inuyasha says, “Ya, whatever. Look, we came to get you. Kagome and Kagura are waiting. Come on.” As the monk stands up, Inuyasha turns and heads back. The monk hurries and takes up a pace a few steps behind the half-demon. He asks, “Sango didn’t come?” Inuyasha says, “Lucky for you. She’s gonna kill you this time.” They reach the hut, and with it, Kagome and Kagura. The later is hiding behind the former for obvious reasons. Kagome asks, “Miroku, what happened to you?” Inuyasha turns, taking his first look at the monk’s front. He has a massive black eye, covering most of half his face. Curious, Kagura steps out from behind Kagome. As she stares at the monk’s face, it inclines and his eyes roam up and down her nearly naked legs. Smack. Kagome says, “I think it’s safe to say how he got that!” Miroku rubs his cheek and says, “Nothing so glamorous. I slipped by the waterfall. Come now, if there had been a woman here, Inuyasha would smell her. Do you?” Inuyasha looks puzzled. He says, “This whole place smells weird. I smell plants and animals and the four of us. I also smell the dirt. I guess it’s the mud from the river, but I thought…no, forget it. Anyway, there ain’t been humans here for weeks, demons longer.” Kagura says, “Looks like he’s just a klutz. Let’s go.” Inuyasha give one more sniff before stepping close to the rest of them.
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Saturday, July 9, 2005

No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 9*

“So was I born. I posses the honor of the Nijuu, but I am of Naraku. He commands me and I must obey.” Yuukanmaru finishes his speech. Kagura says, “If you so despise Naraku, do as I have done. Seek your freedom. In time, with help, you can get it.” He says, “No, I cannot. Just as those warriors could not abandon their foolish lord, I cannot abandon my wicked one. Wisdom, order, strength. On these pillars is the universe supported. Even where one is lacking, the others must stand firm.” Kagome says, “But the Nijuu died because the followed their lord. Can’t you learn from their mistake?” He says, “They made no mistake. They chose the right path, no matter where it led them. It is the duty of the lord to rule well, and it is the duty of the subject to give his lord absolute obedience. Even if one fails, it does not absolve the other from his obligation. So it must be.” Yuukanmaru rises to his feet. He grabs his swords and says, “My resolve has returned. You should have fled.” With that, he launches at Inuyasha another attack which defies viewing. However, this time it does not go as planed. As he is making his initial charge, Kagura throws herself between the two fighters. She knows from viewing the last attack that it will do little damage, and hopes that the half-demon will be able to take advantage of the opportunity. As Yuukanmaru’s blades make swift shallow cuts across Kagura’s back, Inuyasha reaches his Tetsusaiga around her and knocks one of the swords aside. The swordsman jumps back, stopping to retrieve his sword, and Inuyasha catches Kagura as she collapses forward. Her back is a mess and her kimono is ruined, but she assures him that he’s all right. “I’m fine. Inuyasha, kill him; it’s what he wants.” Lowering the demoness to the ground, and gesturing for Kagome to come tend to her, Inuyasha looks at Yuukanmaru with new determination. He gets up and steps away from the girls. He sheaths the Tetsusaiga and flexes his claws. Kagome says, “It doesn’t have to be like this.” Inuyasha says, “You’re wrong Kagome, it does.” He jumps at the demon and shouts, “Iron Reaver, Soul Stealer.” What follows is a high speed battle. Not hampered by the sword, Inuyasha is almost as fast as Yuukanmaru. There is a constant din of steel hitting claw. Both fighters inflict minor wound, but neither one comes close to a kill. Finally, a voice says, “I see I must intervene personally. Inuyasha!” Hearing the voice, Inuyasha loses his focus and lowers his guard. He sees that the voice originated from one of Naraku’s puppet who has arrived on the scene. While Inuyasha is distracted, Yuukanmaru gets behind him and knocks the half-demon to his knees. He brings his swords together, forming a V across Inuyasha’s throat. When Inuyasha begins to tense his muscles to move, the demon draws blood then relaxes his grip. The puppet laughs, “Well done. Now kill him and present his head to me; I command it.” Kagome shouts, “No! Don’t do it; you know it’s wrong.” Naraku says, “You have your orders; you mus…” The puppet is torn in half by a sacred arrow.
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Friday, July 8, 2005

No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 7*

Inuyasha lunges at Yuukanmaru, swinging the Tetsusaiga like a baseball bat. Clink, clink. The swordsman blocks the blow and knocks it aside with his left hand sword. Undeterred, Inuyasha comes again, making great slashes which are all deflected. Clink, clink, clash, clink, whoosh. The fang goes flying. Inuyasha bares his claws and prepares to meet his opponents attack. “Pick it up.” Yuukanmaru says. Inuyasha looks at him, distrusting the offer. Carefully, he backs up and grabs his sword. He once again throws himself at the demon. Clink, slash. Yuukanmaru blocks the attack and gives Inuyasha a small cut on his wrist. He says, “You have potential, lord Inuyasha. But you need practice before you could truly be called a swordsman. Sadly, I cannot wait for that.” No one can see what happens, but it seems that suddenly Yuukanmaru’s swords are everywhere. Again the Tetsusaiga is thrown aside and Inuyasha is sent flying by a hail of attacks. Covered in small cuts, however basically unharmed, Inuyasha lands on his butt. The demon stands over him, poised to strike. He lowers his sword and a look of emotional exhaustion spreads across his face. He turns and goes back to the tree stump. Thrusting a sword into the ground on either side of him, he resumes the lotus position and begins to chant, “Wisdom, order, strength. Wisdom, order, strength. Wisdom…” Struggling to his feet, Inuyasha says, “What the hell!?!” Kagura says, “Yuukanmaru, that is the second time you have spared him. Why do you toy with us? Under these conditions, are lives are yours to take. What game are you playing?” He breaks his meditation to say, “There is no honor in your deaths. What little there was in the deaths of those soldiers is not here. You cannot defend yourselves.” Kagura snaps, “What does Naraku know of honor, and what do we who are born of him?!?” Yuukanmaru’s eyes flash open and he says, “Naraku is a despicable coward who knows nothing of honor! I despise him!” Kagome says, gently, “He knows nothing, but you do.” A gentle look crosses the demon’s face, then it is gone, replaced by pain and sadness. Kagome asks, “Why would Naraku create an incarnation with a sense of honor?” He says, “Ultimately, all philosophy comes down to the question of why we exist. For me, the answer is simple. Why did Naraku create me? Because he could. Because he saw a way to prolong suffering and that brought him pleasure.” Kagome says, “Whose suffering, yours?” Yuukanmaru says, “No, not mine. Would you like to hear the tale of how my shard became tainted?” Kagome nods.
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No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 8*

There once was a wise lord who ruled for many years. In his service he drew the finest warriors in all the land. They became known as his Nijuu. In addition to each one being a formidable fighter, they were also men of the highest caliber. Among them there were monks, painters, musicians, poets, philosophers, and craftsmen of great renowned. Their loyalty to their lord was unwavering and he was a master befitting such servants. In time, he died and left his domain to his only heir, his nephew whose name was Tawakemono. Along with the old lord’s land and wealth, he inherited the Nijuu and their absolute loyalty. But Tawakemono was not his uncle, and he was not a wise lord. For nearly a year the Nijuu served him and there was not one among them who questioned his stupidity. But none of them left him, out of loyalty to his uncle. It came to pass that lord Tawakemono took offense at a casual remark made by another nobleman. Seeing insult where none had been intended, he allowed anger to seethe within him. Eventually, deaf to all console, he ordered a sneak attack against this lord. What he refused to hear was that this other lord was protected by powerful alliances of blood and marriage. Even with the full force of his uncle’s army, Tawakemono would be hopelessly outnumbered once his enemy had time to summon his forces. The attack went ahead and the lord was slain. As predicted, the dead lord’s clan rose to seek vengeance. As their armies approached, all of lord Tawakemono soldiers fled seeing that they would surely be slaughtered. All except the Nijuu. With their lords promise that he would lead them into battle, regardless of the odds, they stayed by his side. When the enemy moved to within archery range, the lord could not be found. As the arrows began to fly, his body was found. He had been trying to flee disguised as a woman. It was too late for retreat or surrender, so the Nijuu fought to the last man. Every one of them took down a dozen enemies, but they faced many times those numbers. Their blood flowed through the fortress of their foolish lord. After their enemies had left with Tawakemono’s remains, Naraku found their remains and he buried a jewel shard with them for a month. When he took it out, it was as black as coal.
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Thursday, July 7, 2005

No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 6*

“Shall we begin?”
“That’s it?” Inuyasha asks. Kagome adds, “Usually Naraku’s incarnations like to give monologues before a battle.” Yuukanmaru says, “Very well, if it’s that important to you, what should I say? Do you want to hear my life’s story, pointless insults, or praise to my master?” Kagome says, “Well, when you put it like that…” Inuyasha cuts her off, “Just forget it Kagome! If he doesn’t wanna waste time yapping, you ain’t gonna hear me complaining. Let’s just fight!” With that, the half-demon lunges at the swordsman. Yuukanmaru draws one of his swords and blocks the Tetsusaiga. Inuyasha swings again and again, but he is blocked each time. Finally, the incarnation jumps backward and grabs his second sword. Not freeing it from its sheath, he says, “Impressive, lord Inuyasha. You wield a truly mighty blade. Before you can unleash its full might, I wish to view your own strength.” He takes the hilt of his second sword in his left hand and allows the sheath to fall off. He says, “In many ways I am like the samurai who fight for human lords. Each one carries a spare sword into battle as a sign of affluence and a point of honor. I too carry two swords, but I am a demon. I can wield both swords at once; and of course, I can do more. Allow me to demonstrate my special power.” As he raises his swords, they begin to glow with demonic energy. Small bursts of yellow lightning begin to jump between the tips. Finally, a great burst of energy shoots skyward. The swords stop glowing and Yuukanmaru brings them down, and readies them for combat. The others are rather perplexed as nothing seems to have happened. Suddenly, the same energy that had been present in Yuukanmaru’s swords envelops the Tetsusaiga and Kagura’s fan. When the energy dissipates, the Tetsusaiga has returned to its dormant smaller form. Kagura flicks open her fan, and with a flick of her wrist calls, “Dance of blades!” Nothing happens. Yuukanmaru says, “This is the power of the Mugen Garandou; it renders any demonic weapon useless. You can see now why I use human swords, because in my battles all swords are equal and differ only by their wielder. So lord Inuyasha, are you still interested in fighting me; one swordsman to another?” Inuyasha smirks, “You’re on!” With that, he lunges again.
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Wednesday, July 6, 2005

No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 5*

Kagome, Inuyasha, and Kagura are flying along the rout described for them by the nobleman. Kagome says, “Look Inuyasha, about this morning, you really need to start being nicer to Shippo.” “What’d I do?!?” he asks, genuinely perplexed. Kagome says, “You weren’t exactly nice when he asked if he could come.” Inuyasha says, “All I said was that, if he’d come, we’d’ve ended up fighting. We always do.” “Inuyasha,” Kagome says with frustration, “Do you have to have everything written out for you? He was still shaken from last night and he wanted to be with you.” “Me???” the half-demon asks. “Of course you.” Kagome says. “You’re the one he knows he can look to for protection. You’re always saving him and me. Not to mention that you were the one who avenged his father. If you’d give him half a chance he’d idolize you. But no, you have to keep acting like you’re his age. Every time you start to look really cool to him, you have to go and act like a little kid.” Inuyasha looks away, ponderously. Kagome grabs his arm and says, “Kagura, stop!” After the feather lands, Kagome looks off into the distance and says, there’s a sacred jewel shard up ahead. Inuyasha sniffs the ground. “Hmm…” he says. “I smell a demon, but I also smell human. The thing is, it’s only one scent and it’s not a half-demon. Naraku’s in there too; probably the incarnation we been hearin about. Let’s go!” The three head off towards the crest of a small ridge. As they reach the top, they are confronted by a strange sight accompanied by a strange sound. A man in simple blue clothing is sitting in lotus on an old tree stump playing flute. He has noble features; although he is not classically handsome, parse. He is fully absorbed by his melody, a pleasant piece which seems well suited to the afternoon breeze. Beside him are two finely crafted samurai swords. Kagome takes a step forward, but Inuyasha extends his arm. Blocking her path. She says, “It can’t be him.” Inuyasha says, “Two swords and he ain’t human. He reeks of blood and Naraku. It’s him alright.” The piece finished, the man sets aside his flute and stands. Bowing, he says, “Mistress Kagura, Lady Kagome, and Lord Inuyasha I trust. I am Yuukanmaru and, as you have guessed, I serve Naraku. I bear no ill will toward any of you. However, by my master’s orders I must kill you all.” Reaching for his swords, he asks, “Shall we begin?”
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Tuesday, July 5, 2005

No Surrender: Tragic swordsman, Yuukanmaru
*episode 4*

How tragic, these dead
Mighty warriors they stood
By my hand they fell

“What the hell?!?” Inuyasha says. Kagura says, “It’s haiku.” Answering the half-demons questioning stare, Kagome says, “It’s poetry.” They are standing in the middle of another battle field full of dead humans. Kagome is holding a piece of paper she found neatly folded next to the severed head of the apparent leader of the group. On the paper is written the strange words which she just read. Inuyasha asks, “Is this creep boasting? Does he think he’s so tough because he can do all this?” Kagome says, “I don’t think so. This almost sounds like a lament; as if he were sad.” Inuyasha says, “Coming from one of Naraku’s incarnations, I doubt…oww!” As Inuyasha rubs his head, Kagura says, “No Kagome, he’s right. I’ve never felt remorse over the times when I killed. Even though lately I’ve begun to wonder if I should. If this is Naraku’s doing, then it’s something new.” “Fiends!!!” the words are accompanied by the pounding of hooves. Half a dozen horsemen are charging at them. Inuyasha and Kagura push in front of Kagome. The half-demon unsheathes the Tetsusaiga and the demoness raises her fan in readiness. “Hold!” a voice bellows. “These are not the ones.” The horsemen draw to halt several meters from the tree and the speaker comes up from behind them. One of the horsemen says, “But m’lord, the survivors said that it was a sword wielding demon; and here we have him fresh from yet another slaughter.” Before Inuyasha or his friends can proclaim his innocence, the lord says, “They did indeed; however, they also both said that the demon wielded two swords and traveled alone. They aren’t the ones we’re looking for, move along.” As the horsemen proceed to begin searching through the bodies, the lord turns to the three, “Demons, I ask only that you be about your business. There is a rogue on the loose, slaughtering our soldiers; this group makes more than one hundred. I have no time to deal with your like.” Kagome pushes between Kagura and Inuyasha and says, “We saw another group over that way,” she points, “and we found this here.” She hands him the haiku. Looking at it, he says, “Scouts reported on that company a short time ago. It was my brother and his men.” Kagome says, “I’m sorry.” The lord looks up from the paper. “Although your dress tells otherwise, you seem to be human. Are you in need of assistance?” he says, looking at the others still standing defensively. Kagome says, “What these two, no they’re my friends. We’re looking for another friend of ours; a monk. He was making a pilgrimage to a shrine near here, but we think he may be in danger.” The lord nods, “To Yume Uta; fallow this road until you see a great forest to your left. If you are lucky, you may catch this monk before he enters the forest. If not you will have to wait for him to emerge; lay people are not permitted unaccompanied.” Kagura says, “She may not look it, but Kagome is a priestess. We should go now.” The lord says, “Then be on your way, lady Kagome. If you are stopped again, tell the soldiers you travel with lord Morimaru Todo’s permission.” “Thank you.” Kagome says.
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