Inuyasha: The Prophecies

By: Guardian Angel

Chapter Fourteen

                                    Nina went over to her bed and closed her eyes. She had changed into her pajamas (which was a white t-shirt with a little kitten sleeping on it and sky blue sweat pants) and knew Sota had already gone to bed since she had gone to make sure the door was lock before she decided to go to sleep. She sighed and rolled over onto her side looking at her curtains that were now free of the ribbons and were covering the window. She frowned and got up. She then went over to her closet and grabbed out a lavender colored plain robe and put it on tying the strings. She then went over to her window and opened it. She looked to her right to see stairs and smiled. The stairs weren’t that far from her window so maybe she could climb out of her window then jump to the stairs. She began climbing out her window determinedly and froze when she heard movement. She realized it was coming from Sota’s room, but started climbing out of her window when she heard the movement cease. Soon she was out of the window and hanging onto it with her hands as she tried to reach for the stairs with her foot.

                                    Oh. This is going to be harder than I thought, Nina thought trying to keep her grip on the sill of the window so she wouldn’t fall down into the alley that was beginning to send shivers down her spine when she remembered how Elena had died. Her foot soon gripped the rail of the stairs and she began trying to grip it with her other foot. Soon, she accomplished that as well. Okay. Almost there. She gulped as she let one hand free and tried reaching for the railing with it. Come on. Come on. She felt her grip on the sill begin to loosen and tried to keep a firm grip on it. She then heard two voices and stopped doing what she was doing.

                                    “Hey, pretty, why don’t you come down here and play?” a man’s voice asked.

                                    Nina began biting her lower lip and looked down to see Hiten and Manten. Oh, no. This is so not good.

                                    “Yeah. I need to get you back for what you and your friends did to me,” Hiten said.

                                    Nina ignored them and continued trying to get to the stairs. Her eyes widened when she saw that Hiten was climbing up the stairs towards her. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. This is not happening to me. Why are they here anyway? They should be in LA with Naraku.

                                    “Either you fall and let Manten catch you or you can wait ‘till I get there,” Hiten said. “You pick.”

                                    I don’t want either, you jerk, Nina thought. She let her feet release the railing and was about to get her free hand back on the window sill when she completely lost the grip of it and soon found herself falling to the ground at a rapid speed. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt her heart begin to pound out of fear. Oh, no. I’m going to die. I’m going to hit the ground and go splat. I ‘m going to die! I’ll never be able to see my mom, brother, dad, or… Inukai. Tears filled her eyes. Inukai… doesn’t love me. I might be his friend, but he doesn’t love me. She soon felt two arms catch her. She opened her eyes in disbelief, hope, surprise, and heartache when she thought it was none other than Inukai who had caught her, but her disbelief was driven away, her hope dashed, her surprise turned to anger, and her heartache only grew deeper when she saw it was Manten who caught her.

                                    Manten set her on her feet and looked her over. “Yep. I do see why brother has taken a liking to you.”

                                    Nina backed up away from Manten as Hiten jumped down from the stairs and gracefully landed beside his brother. Nina soon found her self with no way to run. She was backed up against the wall with two walls on either side of her and her only exit was to get through the Thunder Brothers. She gulped really wishing for someone to rescue her instead of her always doing the rescuing.

                                    Where’s Inukai when you need him? Nina thought. Oh, yeah. In LA, California in America, where he’s safe and unharmed.

                                    “Now, tell me, how would you like it if you became my slave,” Hiten said running a finger down her face.

                                    Nina gritted her teeth and said, “I’d rather die before I became your slave.”

                                    “No. Really. Tell me how you’d like it,” Hiten said now running his finger down her neck.

                                    Nina glared at Hiten and kicked him in the shins before he could run his finger down any lower. “I said, I’d rather die and I meant it.”

                                    Hiten got up rubbing his shin and glared at her. “You’ll regret that.”

                                    “Yeah, right,” Nina said rolling her eyes. “The day that I regret I kicked you, is the day I…umm, get sent to the Underworld.”

                                    “And I’ll be sure that happens,” Hiten said pointing his halberd at her as electricity began to light the end of it.

                                    Nina gulped and felt sweat begin to go down her face. “Back off before I make you regret that you were ever brought back to life.”

                                    “Now, now, no need to be so rude,” Manten said smiling.

                                    Nina let out a low growl and tried to make her claws appear except they wouldn’t. What gives?! Why won’t my claws appear?! I must’ve used up all my strength on that stupid dinosaur demon as hard as that is to believe since I mainly used the jewel’s power more than mine. Then again, maybe I used up my strength when I had that vision, but does that mean it uses my strength when I have them even though I can’t control when and where I have them?

                                    “You ready to die?” Hiten asked smirking.

                                    Nina smirked and put a hand over the tip of Hiten’s halberd. “I should ask you the same.” She felt the electricity begin to electrocute her hand, but ignored the pain. How am I going to do this? She closed her eyes and tried to summon her remaining strength to vanquish the two demons, but failed miserably. She let out a growl of frustration as she opened her eyes. Why won’t it work?!

                                    Hiten sighed as his patience began to wear thin. “You’ve got nothing to do in your defense. You’re as good as dead.” The lightning began to get bigger and Nina took her hand away from the halberd as it began to burn her hand.

                                    Nina shot Hiten a glare. “You are such a creep, you know that! You killed Shippo’s family just so you could have the shards they had! Then you kidnapped Kagome and used her as bait against Inuyasha just to get the shards of the Shikon Jewel!” And failed miserably in doing so. “And now you’re going after a totally defenseless girl! You two should be ashamed of yourselves.”

                                    Hiten smirked. “Defenseless, eh? What about those claws of yours?”

                                    Nina kept herself from shouting at Hiten and telling him she really was defenseless. “What if I don’t want to use them?”

                                    “I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to use them seeing as you are about to die,” Hiten said.

                                    Good point, Nina thought. Oh, man, I really am defenseless right now. This so stinks.

                                    Inukai sniffed the air still trying to smell Nina’s scent when the wind began blowing. He cursed knowing it would only make her scent go all over the place. But, nonetheless, he caught her scent and began following the stronger scent. Seth also followed still bored and getting annoyed. He didn’t care about Nina at the moment. All he wanted right now, was to get some nice and peaceful sleep. It was, after all, night and he was sure that it had to be either midnight or near sunrise. He was surprised the airplane hadn’t taken as long as he had thought.

                                    Seth frowned. Probably some new technology that enables planes to move faster.

                                    Hiten grabbed Nina by the throat and lifted her up. Nina kicked her legs at him, but failed in kicking him. Nina felt Hiten’s grip on her tighten causing her to gasp for air, as it wasn’t reaching her lungs. She began to feel lightheaded and her lungs began to burn. She closed her eyes as a tear made its way down her face.

                                    I’ll never see my family, friends, or… Inukai again… Inukai, help me if you can hear me. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done that got me stuck here in the first place. I don’t want to die yet. I want to enjoy my life as a teenager, then a woman, then an old lady until I die of a natural cause, but nothing like this. Not with all this pain, heartache, sorrow, and everything else. Not with Naraku still king of the world and humans being slaves. She opened her eyes and glared down at Hiten. I won’t die until the Shikon Jewel is purified, Naraku’s dead, humans are freed, and humans, demons, and half demons can live peacefully side by side. Once all that is accomplished, then I’ll die knowing this even if I can’t die happily. I just want this, with or without Inukai. She closed her eyes again then put both her hands around Hiten’s wrist.

                                    Hiten watched and smirked. “You think you can actually get free of me? Ha! That’s a laugh. I doubt you could get free of a baby’s grip.”

                                    “Yeah,” Manten said letting out a loud laugh.

                                    Nina ignored the two and tried to summon all her power that she never knew she had. She felt the power begin to go to her hands and continued trying to summon all her power when she heard a cry.

                                    “Nina!” a familiar voice cried.

                                    Nina ignored the voice and continued concentrating on her powers.

                                    Inukai and Seth stood in the front of the alley and saw Hiten choking Nina and Manten laughing as though the sight was amusing. Inukai let out a growl and brought a clawed hand up in front of his face as Manten turned around to face him while Hiten just looked over his shoulder frowning.

                                    “Let her go,” Inukai said in a voice that would send shivers down any normal human’s spine.

                                    Hiten smirked. “And ruin all this fun? I don’t think so.”

                                    Inukai let out another growl and cracked his knuckles. “Let her go or die.”

                                    “I’d like to see you try,” Manten said. “We are the Thunder Brothers and are, therefore, invincible.”

                                    Inukai took a step forward, but Seth put his arm up blocking his way. Inukai gave him a look that would kill anyone if looks could kill. Seth ignored his brother and looked towards Hiten and Manten.

                                    “I’ll have you know that the girl you are holding right now, is Inukai’s mate,” Seth said.

                                    Inukai’s eyes widened as his face began reddening. M-mate?! B-but-and-she-and-but-we barely know each other. Okay. Not really. B-but how could he say that?! I don’t even think she feels that way about me. Okay. Yeah. We kissed and everything, but…

                                    “And I approve of her as my brother’s mate. Now, I suggest you release her before I put an end to your lives,” Seth said.

                                    Hiten looked towards his brother. “Manten, I leave them to you. It won’t take me very long before this vixen dies anyway.”

                                    Manten nodded. “Yes, brother.”

                                    He charged after Inukai and Seth. The two dog demons grabbed out their swords. Seth stood his ground while Inukai charged after Manten. Manten’s mouth filled with electricity as he got ready to shoot it out and at Inukai. Inukai let out a cry and went in for the kill. Manten shot out the lightning hitting Inukai in the stomach causing him to crash into the trashcans nearby. Seth watched the two then turned his attention to Nina and Hiten. His eyes narrowed.

                                    “Hiten, release her,” Seth said.

                                    Hiten ignored the full-blooded dog demon and continued choking Nina.

                                    Nina recognized the voice that had told Hiten to release her and also recognized the voice that had cried out her name just moments ago. She ignored everything around her knowing it would only distract her. She began biting her lower lip then sent out all her power. The Shikon Jewel’s glowing light went down her arm to her hand. Nina tightened her grip on Hiten’s wrist and continued doing so when she heard a low growl.

                                    “What the hell are you doing, witch?” a voice hissed.

                                    Nina knew it was Hiten’s voice and that her plan must’ve been working. She opened her eyes to see Hiten looking at her through narrowed eyes. She could tell his wrist was in pain as he was biting on his lower lip to keep himself from crying out. Nina ignored him and looked around to see Inukai charging after Manten and Seth watching all of them.

                                    Inukai’s here, Nina thought. And Seth? She shook her head and tightened her grip on Hiten’s wrist. I can’t lose my focus on this. She twisted Hiten’s wrist as he let out a cry and was about to punch her when she grabbed his hand with her other hand stopping him. Hiten released her as he tended to his wound. Nina held her hand up in his face then shot out pick energy. Hiten’s eyes widened. Once the light was gone, Hiten was no more.

                                    Manten saw this and threw Inukai into the wall again then charged after Nina. Nina turned to face him showing him, Inukai, and Seth blank emotionless eyes. Her nails began glowing gold. She then thrust her hand in Manten’s direction. The gold left her nails and began going after Manten in a dagger like fashion.

                                    Inukai watched in surprise and bewildered. Those look almost like my Claws of Blood.

                                    The “claws” hit Manten all along his body. Nina went over to him and made a golden bow and an arrow appear. She aimed the arrow then released it causing it to hit Manten in the middle of the head. The arrow and bow then disappeared as Inukai and Seth ran to her side. Nina’s eyes turned back to normal.

                                    Inukai, she thought as she saw him run to her. She then fell to the ground soon finding herself in darkness.

                                    “Nina!” Inukai cried as his eyes widened and she fell down onto the ground. He quickly caught her and let out a sigh of relief when he heard her breathing.

                                    “She’s just exhausted. Don’t worry about it,” Seth said going over to his brother’s side and sheathing his blade.

                                    Inukai nodded and looked back down at Nina as he lifted her up in his arms bridal style. He put a strand of hair behind her ear and ran a finger across her cheek. Nina let out a sigh. Inukai looked at her startled then realized she liked his caress and continued doing so.

                                    “Let Nina go, you fiends!” a voice cried.

                                    The two dog demons looked up to see Sota holding a baseball bat.

                                    “Sota!” Inukai cried happily.

                                    Sota looked at him confused then smiled when he remembered Inukai. “Inukai! You’re alive! What are you doing here?”

                                    “I could ask you the same,” Inukai said jumping up to Sota’s window with Seth following. Sota moved back to let the two through.

                                    “Well, I’ve been here for about two months. A demon kind of captured me and, well, the demon’s gone so who cares,” Sota said shrugging.

                                    Inukai nodded then looked around Sota’s room. “Uh, do you know where Nina’s room is?”

                                    Sota nodded and led the half dog teenaged boy to Nina’s room. Inukai placed Nina on her bed and turned his back to her sitting in front of the bed with his legs and arms crossed.

                                    “I’ll explain everything in the morning,” Seth told Sota as they left the room.

                                    Sota nodded and went to his room to go back to sleep. Seth went over to the couch and fell asleep.

                                    Inukai sighed as he looked down at the ground. Nina, I’m sorry. I should’ve been there for you and I wasn’t. He let out a growl and pound his fist into the floor. “Damn it! She could’ve died! I would have failed to protect her if I hadn’t gotten there in time!” He shook his head. “No. She’s the one who left me. But…” He turned around to face her as his eyes softened and put a hand over hers. Why did she leave me?

~*Flashback*~

                                    “The kiss, did you mean it? Was it supposed to happen? Or was it a mistake because you were thinking of Kayko?” Nina asked looking down at her feet, her hair hiding the tears that began to go down her face.

                                    I don’t want to hurt her. But the only way to drive her away maybe just to lie to her, Inukai thought. “No, I didn’t mean to kiss you. It wasn’t supposed to happen. It was a mistake. I-I was thinking of Kayko. Sorry.”

                                    “I-it’s okay,” Nina said still looking down at the ground. Right then and there, she wanted to curl up and cry. She couldn’t believe what Inukai had told her. “I-I gotta go.”

                                    “Yeah,” Inukai said looking down at the ground.

                                    Nina left Inukai’s room.

                                    Inukai let out a sigh as soon as Nina left closing the door behind her. He went over to his bed and lied down on it. He closed his eyes. I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I got rid of the one person that I love the most. Inukai growled, sat up, and punched his lamp causing it to break. Idiot! Idiot! IDIOT!

~* End Flashback*~

                                    Inukai’s eyes lowered as his bangs covered his face. She left me because of that. So, it’s still my fault. She wouldn’t have come here if I hadn’t said that. Nina, I’m sorry. Just come back to me. I can’t live on without you. You don’t have to forgive me. I’ll be happy if you’re alive and awake where I can see you smiling, being angry with anyone including me… even crying. Just come back. His fingers intertwined with Nina’s. Please.

                                    Nina groaned as she sat up rubbing her head. “I feel like I got hit in the head with a boulder or something.” She sighed as she looked around to see herself surrounded by total darkness. She raised an eyebrow. “What the-where am I?”

                                    “In the deep dark soul of the Shikon Jewel,” a darker than usual voice said.

                                    I know that voice, Nina thought. It’s somewhat familiar.

~*Flashback*~

                                    A four-year-old Nina dressed in a white long sleeved dress that reached her knees, ran around the snow in Omaha, Nebraska in the park. Her brother had been born four months ago and her parents were busy trying to feed the baby again and were sitting on a nearby bench. Nina giggled as she fell down in the soft snow and began making a snow angel. She quickly got up once she was done to admire her work. She let out another giggle and was about to try to make a snowman when an odd man came over to her.

                                    The man had blonde hair and looked to be around in his late twenties or early thirties. He wore a black jacket, white long sleeved shirt, black pants, black shoes, and sunglasses that hid his eyes from the young girl.

                                    “Hi! Can I help you?” Nina asked smiling.

                                    “Yes, you can,” the man said in a deep dark voice that sent shivers down her spine.

                                    Nina gulped and said, “W-with what?”

                                    “No need to worry about it now,” the man said. “You’re still too young.” He smiled as he playfully ruffled with her hair. “I’ll ask you for help in about twelve years.” He began walking away. “‘Till then, kiddo.”

~*End Flashback*~

                                    Nina’s face turned to one of puzzlement. But that weird guy was in the actual world, not the jewel. I saw him with my own two eyes! I know I wasn’t imagining it!

                                    “Calm down,” the voice said. “You did see me.”

                                    Nina’s eyes widened as she saw the same man she had seen twelve years ago walk out of the darkness. He hadn’t aged a bit!

                                    “Surprise? You shouldn’t be,” the man said.

                                    “Who-who are you?” Nina asked.

                                    “Me? They call me Magatsuhi,” the man said.

                                    “Magatsuhi?” Nina asked. In Japanese, that means twisted spirit, doesn’t it? She shook her head. “Tell me, what is it you want?”

                                    “I want you to corrupt the Jewel of Four Souls,” Magatsuhi said.

                                    “What?! No way!” Nina cried putting a hand over where the jewel would usually be.

                                    Magatsuhi let out a sigh. “If you don’t, I’ll make sure you never see your friends or family ever again.”

                                    “You can’t do that,” Nina said crossing her arms stubbornly. Besides, if we are in the Shikon no Tama, Midoriko is in here and she’ll come to rescue me.

                                    “You really think that, eh? Well, I’ve got news for you, sweetheart, Midoriko wouldn’t dare to come this far within the jewel. Besides, it depends on your heart and we both know that it’s filled with darkness,” Magatsuhi said.

                                    Nina then remembered what Miroku had said in her Inuyasha manga volume number ten.

                                    “The ‘shikon’ or ‘four souls’ are known as… Arami-tama, nigimi-tama, kushimi-tama, and sakimi-tama. Together those spirits are housed in a physical body as its soul or ‘heart.’ The arami-tama presides over valor, nigimi-tama harmony, kushimi-tama miracles, and sakimi-tama love. A soul in which these four aspects are combined and balanced is called a ‘naohi.’ A ‘true’ spirit. For that person it is easy to remain on a truth path,” Miroku said.

                                    “I don’t get this at all,” Shippo said.

                                    “It is kinda overwhelming to hear it all at once…” Kagome said.

                                    “And…?” Inuyasha asked.

                                    “If an evil deed is committed, then the four aspects are unbalanced… the soul becomes a magatsuhi… a ‘twisted spirit.’ And the person will turn onto the wrong path,” Miroku said.

                                    So, then, my soul, my heart, has become unbalanced? Nina thought.

                                    “Yes. Your soul, heart, and mind have become unbalanced,” Magatsuhi said.

                                    “What are you doing?” Albert asked.

                                    “Trying to find something good to watch,” Sharon said.

                                    “Why?” Albert asked.

                                    “Because a certain little cat demon got Max and me and trouble,” Sharon said trying to refrain herself from hurting Albert.

                                    Albert frowned then turned to face Anna. “What are you doing?”

                                    “Don’t even think about it,” Anna said becoming annoyed with the young demon’s behavior.

                                    Albert frowned and went over to Max. “What are you-”

                                    “Don’t even think about it,” Max said crossing his arms and looking down at Albert from the corner of his eye.

                                    Albert pouted and muttered, “You guys are no fun.”

                                    “So, you see, you have already corrupted the Shikon Jewel somewhat so you might as well corrupt the rest of it,” Magatsuhi said.

                                    “No,” Nina said. If I really have corrupted the jewel, then I should give it to Kagome. “I’m not turning the jewel evil.”

                                    Inukai sighed as he began caressing Nina’s cheek. I wouldn’t blame you if you never forgave me. Heck, I don’t even think I can forgive myself for what I did to you. “But just come back to me. Come back to the world of the living… Nina…”

                                    “So, this is where you have been hiding out, eh,” a man’s voice said.

                                    Inukai took his hand away from Nina to see someone hiding in the shadows. “Who are you and what do you want?” When he said this, he stood up, let out a low growl, and unsheathed his blade.

                                    “I am your death,” the figure said walking out of the shadows.

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