Into the Arms of a Mercenary {Complete} {InuyashaWattyAwards 2014}

Chapter 26

"Damn, that Bankotsu! He thinks that he's so smart! If only there was a way to distract him just for a minute," Hakudoshi thought. The demon searched diversion of some sort. He them spotted Izayoi in Naraku's tentacle and the idea got to him. "Izayoi…of course! He wouldn't hestitate to go to her aid!" Hakudoshi smiled.

Getting an uneasy feeling, Bankotsu's smile faded. "What the hell are you smiling about?!" "You really shouldn't be asking questions at a time like this," he replied coolly.

Hakudoshi laughed, knowing full well that Bankotsu's impatience would get to him. "What's the matter, Bankotsu? Don't you like the game I'm playing?" Bankotsu smiled grimly and replied," I thought you said one shouldn't ask questions at a time like this!" "Look over there," Hakudoshi pointed. Shocked, Bankotsu couldn't believe what he was seeing. Naraku was holding Izayoi in his tentacle and using her as protection from Kikyo. "How low can Naraku go? Using his own daughter to get Kikyo!? " Bankotsu thought angrily.

There was a tense feeling in the air as Kikyo stood there, not knowing what to do. "Now, Kikyo…how about you back away from me? You don't want Izayoi to die, now do you?" he said as he squeezed Izayoi's fragile body a bit to see what Kikyo's reaction would be. Izayoi screamed.

"Naraku, STOP IT!" Kikyo tighten her grip around the wooden bow and tried to remain calm without causing anything that might endanger her or Izayoi's life. "Kikyo, if you agree to stop this foolish idea of killing me and taking the jewel, then I will release her. If you don't agree than you leave me no choice but to kill her!" Naraku mocked. Izayoi's eyes widened in fear as she started to panic. "What?! So he's going to kill me?!"

"Naraku, I don't agree," Kikyo declared. "Well, since that's the way you feel than have it your way," Naraku sneered. He took out a katana and held it next to Izayoi 's neck. "Naraku, don't do it!" Kikyo cried. Raising the katana above his head, Naraku swung down and Izayoi screamed. Kikyo stood frozen, unable to do anything. "STOP!" Izayoi yelled. She closed her eyes as tears began to run down her cheeks. Naraku paused, the blade an inch away from Izayoi's neck. "Please…stop. I don't want any more fighting! I'll protect the jewel! I promise!"

Naraku let Izayoi go and she fell down to the ground. "I promise that I'll protect it with my life!" she continued to cry. Naraku knelt beside her She didn't know to whether hate him for using her or hug him for comfort. "Izayoi, I wasn't going to kill you. I was merely testing Kikyo," Naraku said, placing a hand on her head. Izayoi didn't say anything. She could feel her heart still pounding and leaned on his chest. Kikyo felt relief and was glad that Izayoi didn't get killed.

Bankotsu relaxed after seeing that Naraku spared Izayoi when it seemed as if he was going to kill her. "She's safe now!" he thought thankfully. Hakudoshi took advantage that Bankotsu had let his guard down and punched Bankotsu repeatedly. "You really shouldn't allow yourself to get distracted by a mere woman, Bankotsu. You should be concentrating on your opponent," he mocked. The young band leader's body was too limp to allow him to get up. Hakudoshi walked over to Bankotsu and tried to kick him on the side, but Bankotsu caught his foot and send him flying back.

Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara faced off with the rest of the Band of Seven members. Jakotsu and Mukotsu helped one another to bring down the demon slayer, with Jakotsu using his sword and Mukotsu using his poisonous gas. Kyokotsu battled off the demon cat, Kirara, who had to be flying in the air, dodging the huge giant's attacks. Renkotsu and Ginkotsu used fire arms against Miroku, who was trying to absorb their weapons with his Wind Tunnel while avoiding the shot fired against him. Shippo, the young fox demon, was trying his best to avoid the psychopath Suikotsu's hand claws. Inuyasha got hold of Naraku's attention and started a one-on-one battle with him.

Bankotsu got his Banryu and stood on his feet. Hakudoshi followed suit and reached for his naginata. Charging once more, the two men's blades collided with. Sparks were sent into the air along with a big bang, making a huge whirling gust of air and debris. Their attacks had cancelled each other out and Bankotsu and Hakudoshi landed far from each other.

Naraku and Inuyasha hit each other with some of their most powerful attacks, causing them to wreck havoc. Inuyasha sent Naraku the Backlash Wave, destroying the demon's body, only to regenerate back its normal self. Naraku laughed evilly and said," Foolish one! You should know that those who oppose me shall die!"

"We'll see about that, Naraku!" Inuyasha bellowed, brandishing his sword. He was about to use the Wind Scar, but out of nowhere, Kikyo's arrow struck the Tetsusaiga and reversed the sword's transformation. Inuyasha looked at Kikyo, surprised. "Kikyo?!" he whispered. She said nothing. Naraku used the situation and pierced Inuyasha with his tentacle through his chest. He ripped out his heart, smirking. Tetsusaiga dropped on the ground in a pool of blood, alongside it's owner.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled out. "There's no way we'll ever win like this!" Sango yelled, getting on Kirara's back. She helped Miroku and Shippo on, as they fled the battlefield. "Hey! Where the hell are you going, woman?!" Jakotsu yelled after her.

Laying on the ground, Bankotsu felt his strength fading slowly. His hair was loose and partially covered his face. Hakudoshi on the other hand, hadn't become as weakened as Bankotsu. He slowly walked over to Bankotsu. Grabbing a hand full of Bankotsu's jet black hair, he held his naginata above his neck. "Now, Bankotsu. It's time for you to go to your grave…a second time."

Izayoi, watching fearfully what was happening, decided to go the aid of her lover. However, Kagura gripped her wrist and pleaded,"Don't go! It's too dangerous!" Izayoi looked her directly in the eyes and replied,"I have to help him, Kagura! He's going to die if I don't!"

Kagura suddenly had an idea that would help her friend. "Izayoi…I can help you." Izayoi stop struggling and said,"You do? How?" Kagura whispered,"I know where Hakudoshi's heart is."