Enter Satora, The Solitary Assassin

By: ME

“Master Naraku, I have brought you the assassin,” said Kohaku. Naraku gave a dark chuckle. “Send her in,” he said. “Look behind you, you fool.” Naraku turned to see the source of the voice. Standing off in the shadows was the young assassin. “I see you are more stealthy than my minions gave you credit for,” said Naraku darkly. “And seeing as you replaced yourself with a demon puppet, you most likely took that into consideration,” she snapped back. She didn’t even need to unsheathe her sword to destroy the demon puppet with one strike. “You are Naraku. You travel along the countryside searching for shards of the sacred Shikon Jewel, normally doing anything necessary to acquire them,” she said. “Hmm, impressive.” The assassin, called Satora, continued, “You were formerly known as Onigumo, and allowed demons to feed off your flesh in order to obtain a new, stronger body. You can also change form as you like, and killed a priestess by doing so.” “Hmm,“ Naraku was not entirely at ease with this girl and her inexplicable knowledge of his life. “But, what about an exceptional young dog-demon such as yourself, Satora, isn‘t it?” Satora, placed her sword back in it’s sheath. “You honestly think I’d tell you? Now, who do you want me to eliminate?” she asked.

“You mangy wolf!” “Stinkin’ half-breed!” This had been going on for about 20 minutes between Inuyasha and Koga. sigh “They’re never going to stop are they?” Kagome asked Miroku. “It would seem that way.” he replied. “The trouble is there’s a slight demonic aura surrounding this area. Don’t let your guard down Kagome.” She nodded.

Meanwhile, Sango and Kirara were flying above the forest in search of a village to stay at for the night. “We can at least be of some use while those to yell at each other… again. Right Kirara?” Kirara looked at Sango with her large orange eyes. Suddenly she felt the fur on the back of her neck rise, as she let out a low growl. “What is it Kirara?” Sango asked as she searched the trees for any disturbances. She saw some crows fly frantically away from the trees. “Hmm, Kirara fly higher. There’s something in the forest.” With that, Kirara ascended higher in the sky.

“Oww! Get off of me you bastard!” “Make me mutt!” Inuyasha and Koga were still going at it. sigh “We should probably keep them from killing each other,” Kagome said to Miroku. “I agree. You tell Inuyasha to sit, and I’ll knock out Koga,” Miroku replied.

“Inu-”

“Kagome shhh.”

Inuyasha sniffed the air, as Koga refrained from tackling him to do the same. “Kagome, do you sense any jewel shards?” Inuyasha asked curiously. “Just a little, but there’s definitely a really strong demonic aura nearby,” she replied. “I sense it too,” Koga said. “It doesn’t smell like Naraku though.” “Or Sesshomaru,” Inuyasha added. As they continued walking, they demonic aura continued to grow stronger. Suddenly Inuyasha stopped. “I smell blood.”

Inuyasha scooped up Kagome as he ran towards the scent. Koga soon followed, leaving Miroku and Shippo alone on the path. Inuyasha’s eyes widened as he ran. Please tell me that’s not who’s blood I think it is. As they came to a stop he realized what he feared. There was Sango in the clearing, lying on Kirara’s back. He noticed a gash in her shoulder that looked like something his Iron Reaver Soul Stealer could produce. Kagome gasped. “Sango, Oh no! Are you alright?”

“You idiot! Of course she’s not alright! Did you see her shoulder!”

“Well excuse me for trying to be courteous!”

“Instead of being polite, why don’t you try to help her instead of letting her bleed to death!”

“Grrrrrrrrrrr! SIT!”

slam

“You only did that ‘cause I was right!”

Kirara, who had been listening to them yell at each other constantly let out a loud roar. “Wow, mutt-boy’s been out-witted by a cat.” Inuyasha turned to see Koga standing there looking at him smuggly. “What the hell are you still doin’ here!” “GEEZ! COULD YOU GUYS SHUT UP FOR TWO MINUTES AND HELP ME BANDAGE SANGO!” Just then. Miroku came walking up the path. “Kagome, I brought your…” His voice trailed off as he stared in horror at Sango’s unconscious body. “S-Sango…” He couldn’t seem to get the words out. Miroku walked over in shock and held Sango close to him. “Sango,” he whispered. “You can’t die on me. I couldn’t bear it. Who would bear my children?” he asked as his hand slowly eased it’s way down Sango’s body. Sango stood up much to Miroku’s surprise. “MIROKU! I’M LYING HERE WITH A HUGE GASH IN MY SHOULDER, YOU THINK I’M GONNA DIE, AND THAT’S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY? smack YOU PERVERT!” Sango, who had been awake and enjoying the tender moment with Miroku, grabbed her Hiraikotsu and hobbled off. She paused for a moment to turn around and yell, “AND KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING LECH!” Everyone glared at Miroku and his hand-printed cheek. “Miroku, you never learn do you?” said Kagome as she and Shippo walked away. “Idiot,” said Shippo. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome’s backpack and followed without saying anything… only glaring coldly at Miroku. “It was meant as a compliment!” he yelled after them. He sighed. Koga just stared at him in confusion.

Sango rested against a tree as Kagome bandaged her shoulder. “Miroku is so insensitive,” she remarked. “I mean you’d think he’d at least wait till he knew I was conscious to ask me to bring that up again!” Kagome looked at Sango’s eyes. They looked so sad and angry, and it looked as if she were holding back tears. “You know,” Kagome said quietly, “He does actually care about you.” Sango didn’t look up. “Yeah, me and about every woman in the area,” she said quietly. Kirara, who had been sitting on her lap, hopped up on to her good shoulder and started nuzzling her cheek gently. Kagome smiled. “So Sango, how’d you get injured in the first place?” asked a gruff voice from behind them. They looked over to see Inuyasha lugging over Kagome’s oversized backpack. “What kinda crap do you got in here Kagome? It weighs a ton!” Kagome ignored him. “Sango, how did you get hurt?” “I’m not sure, Kirara and I were landing, when I heard something in the trees behind us. After that I felt something hit my shoulder, but nothing was there,” she finished. “Nothing, or the illusion of nothing?” asked a mysterious voice from the trees. Inuyasha dropped the backpack and stood in front of them. “Kagome, you and Sango get outta here,” he growled. “Right,” she said as she helped Sango climb on Kirara’s back.

Inuyasha pulled out his Tetsusaiga. “Show yourself you coward!” he yelled into the lifeless forest. “If you insist,” said the voice, now much closer then before. Standing less than ten feet away from him was a beautiful young demon, another dog demon from the looks of it. “Are you the filthy half-breed called Inuyasha?” she asked. Depends who’s askin’ and what you want with me.” he said. She revealed a malevolent grin. “I am Satora. I’m here to help you find your way to the Netherworld.” Satora drew her weapon, a sword almost as large as Inuyasha’s Tetsusaiga. She began running at him, sword in striking position. Inuyasha readied his sword and braced himself for a direct attack. “Inuyasha, I’d like you to meet my Shotaru it will bring you to your knees within the next ten minutes. Burning Strike!” Inuyasha felt Satora’s unexpected claws mangle his face. He screeched in pain as the scratches began to burn his flesh. “Then again, why bother when I can kill you without it?” “That’s enough!” he shouted as he rubbed his eyes. Her attack had left him temporarily blinded. “Your gonna pay for whatever the hell you did to Sango! WIND SCAR!” he thrust his sword into the spot where the swirling airs collided-- he didn‘t need eyes to see that. Satora stared in awe at the massive array of destruction as it flung her back.

As Kagome and Sango flew back to the campsite, they passed Koga who decided to see what all the commotion was. “Koga, Come here!” Kagome called to him. “What is it Kagome?” he asked when they made it back. “Go help Inuyasha. There was someone over there-- it was whoever injured Sango.” Koga stared at her. “Fine. I’ll do it for you. NOT to help your mutt friend,” he growled. With that he took off running. “Kagome, don’t worry about Sango. I’ll take care of her. You take Kirara and go help Inuyasha.” said Miroku. “Are you sure?” she asked, glancing at Sango. Sango nodded in approval. “Okay, we’ll be back soon, promise.” She jumped on Kirara and followed Koga’s trail of dust.

Inuyasha began to regain his vision as the smoke cleared. Did I get her? He stared toward the ditch where he assumed she had landed, but she was not there. For a few moments it was so silent, not even the leaves in the trees rustled. Then it came. “ILLUSION STRIKE!” Inuyasha prepared himself, but saw nothing. He heard a twig snap behind him, and leaped onto the nearest tree branch just before Satora delivered the blow. “Damn you to Hell half-breed!” she yelled as she struck again. “POISON BLADE!” As the blade of her sword turned black, Inuyasha had moistened his claws in the blood on his face. Satora, who was hopping from branch to branch after Inuyasha was completely taken by surprise. “BLADES OF BLOOD!” She made a futile attempt to dodge Inuyasha’s attack, but was hit head on as she fell through the trees toward the ground. However, on her way down she stuck her Shotaru into the trunk of a tree. The tree was easily drained of life from the poison in it. Inuyasha hopped on it and it collapsed under his weight. There waiting for him at the bottom was Satora, who had grabbed her sword from the tree after he had destroyed it. “Goodbye Inuyasha,” she said as she prepared to strike the final blow. “POIS--!” Satora stopped talking and gasped as felt blood dripping down her back. She fell to her knees and turned to see Kagome and Koga standing off to the side. She fell to the ground as her expression became blank. “Oh my gosh! I didn’t mean to kill her!” Kagome shrieked. But Satora wasn’t dead. She was watching her life flash before her eyes in a peaceful daze. Her father, the only family she had after her mother died giving birth to her, her best friend Megumi who was almost a sister to her, the day her father entrusted the mighty Shotaru to her. Satora’s peaceful memories were interrupted by the horrible ones that drove her to becoming an assassin. She winced as she recalled the day her village was massacred, the buildings burning, the dead bodies of everyone she had ever cared about lying there, the moment her father threw himself in front of her to save her, only to die himself. That was the day Satora vowed to avenge her father and her village, and became an assassin.

Remembering this reminded Satora of why she was there in the first place. “Inuyasha,” she said as she stood up. “I refuse to give up until I finish what I’ve started!” with that she lunged into the air and ripped her sword from the remains of the tree, blood still falling from the wound in her back. She spotted Koga. Ahh, the wolf, and that wretched human as well. Perfect. “ILLUSION STRIKE!” Satora had seemed to disappear again, this time taking great care to not make a sound. A few drops of blood is all I need to put my plan into action. she thought as she slit each of there legs with her sword. “Oww!” yelled Kagome. “What the hell do you think your doing?” yelled Koga as he and Inuyasha went after a now visible Satora. “I got what I needed from you!” she yelled at them. With that, she vanished into the forest. Now for the monk and the fox, then I’ll have to search for the priestess and the demon called Sesshomaru. I’ll save my employer for last.

Miroku and Shippo, who had been caring for Sango in the clearing were having a rather hard time keeping Satora away from themselves when the others got back. “Miroku, look out!” shouted Kagome from Inuyasha’s back. “she can make herself invisible and attack like that!” “We kinda already figured that out Kagome!” said Shippo revealing his bleeding arm. Kagome hopped off Inuyasha’s back as he helped Miroku block blows from Satora (Koga joined in too). Suddenly, everything was silent, that is until Miroku let out a short cry of pain. “I win this round half-breed,” came Satora’s voice. “When I’m through with you, you won’t live to see the next round!” Maniacal laughter followed her voice as she ran off into the distance.” Everyone just stood there staring at each other stupidly. “What the hell just happened?” Inuyasha asked. “I think we just got beaten by an exceptionally beautiful assassin, but she didn’t kill any of us.” said Miroku. Everyone glared at him. And Sango smacked him. Again.

Back to Satora, over the next few days, Satora had been searching for Kikyo and Sesshomaru. When she discovered Kikyo was already dead, she didn’t bother to kill her twice. Sesshomaru was a very different, and much more interesting, story. “Master Jaken,” Rin asked as they were walking behind Sesshomaru, “I think it’s starting to rain.” She had felt little drops fall on her face. “Rin, you foolish girl! There’s not a cloud in the sky! How in the world would it be--” Jaken turned and saw small drops of blood covering Rin’s face. “Gahh! What did you do to your face!” he yelled. Rin put a hand to her cheek. “My face?” as she brought her hand down, it was covered in blood. As Rin screamed, Sesshomaru turned around and watched the trail of blood in the grass. “Wipe your face Rin,” he said as he lunged forward to where the trail had stopped. “Ahh, you’re the smart one!” said Satora. “I don’t have time for you,” said Sesshomaru. With that he pulled out his Tokijin. “DRAGON STRIKE!” Satora saw it coming and escaped without a scratch…and with what she came for. One drop of Sesshomaru’s blood. Now I can put my plan into action.

dun-dun-duuuuuunn