Eclipse of the Soul

Eyes as crimson as the demon moon gazed out across the emerald misted rice fields. Each level of the rich terraced plain drew one closer to the poor mud brick huts of the tiny village. Blue tinged smoke from the morning meal was rising above the scattered dwellings where they huddled at the edge of the great forest. The greasy scent of dumplings and ash mixed oddly with the fresh swirling dew of the early spring landscape.
A loud screech sliced through the perfect pastoscenscene as long green hair tossed stormily around the slim shoulders of a porcelain white demoness. The devil woman shrieked her soul piercing signal again sending a cloud of birds and other wildlife scattering from the trees before her. The entire valley shuddered at her presence as she floated above it with her black silk kimono billowing in the breeze.
As the creature had hoped, there on the edge of the craven human village appeared a figure dressed all in red. He tossed his silver mane at her in defiance and brandished his sword above his head. Amber heated eyes pierced her own in a stubborn challenge as he yelled at his adversary.
"What do you want here you evil bitch!?"
Inu Yasha shouted across the sky at his new enemy. This youkai was a threat to him. He instantly knew it. Her scent alone throbbed with death and decay. Ever since the defeat of Naraku, Inu Yasha had been craving a challenge. A rogue demon such as this had him practically salivating for battle.
The demoness floated there some more. Far beyond the reach of the pathetic little half breed. It was not him she was seeking, no. She was waiting for someone else. She would not have to wait long. Almost instantly a young woman appeared beside the snarling little half dog demon. Her indecently short green and white kimono and her long ebony hair proved her identity. The evil above let out a slow satisfied laugh.
Kagome's bright eyes scanned the sky. Her mystic senses were alerting her to something that was out of place. She could feel the tension in Inu Yasha at her side. He was a second away from rushing the strange demon and slashing her to bits with his mighty sword Tetsusaiga. Kagome put a slim hand on his bristling shoulder.
"Wait, Inu Yasha. Who is she and what does she want? This doesn't feel right."
"Who cares! She's a demon and she's gonna destroy the village if we let her through!"
Kagome only shook her head and looked up at the floating creature. The black robes seemed to twine through the clear sky like a heavy storm cloud behind the woman.
"Who are you and what do you want!"
The girl cried fearlessly up at the demon. She already had her bow and arrow in hand and was wishing that she could get closer for a better line of sight on the woman.
The only reply she received was a low chain of laughter and more demon like creatures suddenly came into view snaking through the sky from the cover of the forest trees behind them. Inu Yasha spun around to regard the new force. There seemed to be hundreds of them!
Dark twisting snake creatures with spines all down their backs and large fin like projections which they waved like shadowy oars as the passed one another. They spiraled around the Lady demon which they obviously served.
"I am surprised you have not heard of me."
The demoness finally proclaimed in a pleasant yet supremely arrogant tone. Her voice held a too sweet parasitic quality that invaded ones ears with the ring of falseness. Kagome and her friend looked up at her with rising dread. This was not looking good for them. All their other friends were currently away from the village. There had been a report of a boar youkai that was damaging crops in the next territory that they had all left to intercept. When Kagome had come to the village the day before only Inu Yasha had been there to greet her. It was a lucky thing they had decided not to follow unless they were sent for, otherwise the village would have been completely defenseless!
"I am Lunarva! Queen of the shroud worms."
The demon gestured with one white arm to the swarming venomous creatures that entwined her. With every second the squirming mass grew denser until her slimy black servants were totally blocking out the sky! Each time they passed one another a new shadowy worm peeled itself off the silhouette of it's parent and snapped it's maggot gummed fangs.
" I am here because I have great plans for this world! I have great plans for you and your power, girl!"
Kagome felt herself cringe and a cold sweat trickled down her back as the creature pointed one clawed hand directly at her. This thing wanted her! If Inu Yasha could hold Lunarva off she could make a run for the well and safety. It was a cowardly plan but the only one she could think of at the moment. They were outnumbered by hundreds! She would definitely be safer in her own time.
Inu Yasha's yellow eyes went wide for an instant with fear as the thought of losing Kagome flashed through his mind. Then the only thing he could see was red. The only thing he could smell was the scent of his target. The osenssensation he felt at all was the handle of the blade in his hand. That demon was going down!
"You'll never touch Kagome!" He roared, "I'll shred you and all your stupid little worms to ribbons before you ever get..."
Without warning the demon spawn attacked. Inu Yashas ears went back and his eyes went wide with a classic *Oh Crap!* expression. Like a dark tidal wave undulating down upon the landscape the snake worms thundered towards them. Inu Yasha pushed Kagome to the ground and leapt up to meet the first wave of them with a flashing arch of power from his weapon. Kagome looked up from her face plant in the wet morning grass just in time to see that the kaze no kizu from Tetsusaiga had absolutely no effect on the shadowy monsters. The worms simply faded to shadows to avoid the blow then re solidified a moment later.
"Inu Yasha!"
The girl screamed and Lunarvas red eyes narrowed in pleasure. The shroud worms had soon engulfed the small half dog demon and he was at his very limit just dodging their attacks. He would leap over one serpentine body only to be met by the fanged head of another and then shot at by the spines of a third from behind.
"Kagome! Run!"
He yelled back over his shoulder as a set of razor spikes grazed his left leg. Kagome saw the spray of crimson. Without another thought she notched an arrow in her bow and leveled it at the closest shroud worm she could. It just so happened it was one who had just had it's eye caught by her action and was turning to come and snap at her.
The tip of her arrow glowed with the light of her magic as she let her spell fly. She hit the worm directly between the eyes as it came for her. It went down scraping up a pile of dirt and debris before it with the forward momentum of it's halted lunge. The great slimy carcass came to stop just a few feet from her triumphant archers stance.
"There's more where that came from!"
Kagome yelled up at the slithering mass and brandished her fist. The natural response of the shroud worms was of course to swarm towards her. Kagome immediately remembered her plan from before.
"Oh shit!" She mumbled under her breath as she spun around and began pelting towards the woods on the far side of the village. She was running so fast she thought her heart would burst from her chest but she didn't dare look back once. Hopefully Inu Yasha had been able to get clear of the worms now that they were after her. And hopefully she could make it to the well before they got to her. The tree line loomed darkly up ahead of her. Just a few more paces and she'd make it to cover...