Blood Brothers
Story co-authored by: Phoenix710+Merigirl
Summary: Inuyasha has finally sorted out his feelings, and is prepared to tell Kagome that he wants to be with her forever. As he and the others are about to jump into the Bone-Eater's Well, Kikyo shows up with a huge demon army. Inuyasha and the rest of his friends tear through the pack of disgusting creatures, but before Inuyasha can jump into the Well, Kikyo shoots him in the arm with a powerful arrow containing her newest spell…a deadly poison made especially for him. Sesshomaru arrives on the scene and makes Kikyo reveal how to undo her spell,- only Kagome can break it- but she destroys the Well and places a barrier around the Sacred Tree, preventing any contact with Kagome. With hope fading, Inuyasha is taken to Sesshomaru's castle on the back of Kirara, while Shippo and Miroku go along to watch over him. Meanwhile, Sango takes Rin, Sesshomaru, and Jaken to Kaede's, and they seek her aid in finding a way to bring Kagome to Inuyasha's side before it's too late.
Chapter One: Kikyo's Revenge
The song is 'Won't Go Home Without You' by Maroon 5
Inuyasha made his way over to the Bone Eater's Well, a mixture of nervousness and excitement in his stomach as he walked through the late afternoon sunlight. His friends were walking along in back of him to give him moral support. This wasn't going to be just an ordinary day! Sango, Miroku, Kirara, and Shippo, all were there, each one a mixture of excitement and pure happiness. This was no doubt the day they had all been waiting for, no one more so than Inuyasha himself, for this was the day that he had finally made up his mind. After months and months of trying to decide his feelings for Kagome and Kikyo, he had realized at long last where, and to who, his heart truly belonged….to Kagome!
Inuyasha had harbored pent up feelings for Kikyo for the longest time….more than fifty years, to be exact. After all, Kikyo was the very first human, besides his own mother, who wasn't scared of him, or bullied him because of his half-demon status. She was the very first one who stood by him and supported him even in his darkest days. But, she really didn't accept the demon part of him, and tried to "help" him by trying to use the Shikon Jewel and turn him human to stop the bullying for good, before Naraku ruined everything.
Even though she was only just a clay zombie now, he believed that that the real Kikyo was still buried deep down inside somewhere in her. Being young and still immature, not to mention desperate for affection, he believed Kikyo truly loved him, even though she was trying to change him. It had taken a long time to realize that that really wasn't love. True, her heart may have been in the right place…but how could you say you love someone if you want them to change?
Kagome, on the other hand…she never wanted him to change, not at all. She had fully loved him for who and what he was, warts and all. She was one of the first humans, besides Kikyo, who wasn't scared of him and put up with him even when he acted grouchy and immature! He could talk to her about anything and everything and never run out of things to say. She had always been there for him though thick and thin just as he had vowed to be there and protect her. Heck, if it weren't for Kagome, he might never have even met Sango, Shippo, and Miroku, three of the best friends he had ever had.
Before Kagome, he had thought the only way to be happy was to become either fully human or fully demon to stop the bulling and be with someone in a normal way. He thought being a half-demon was being a freak. But because of Kagome, now he knew there was nothing wrong with being different. He was half and half…and he could actually be proud of it! Like Kagome had said, he had the best of both worlds, demonic strength and a human heart, which he now knew he wouldn't give up for anything.
Kagome, he thought with joy. Now that he knew for sure where his heart truly belonged, who his destined soul mate was, he knew he could never let her go! And today, he was gonna let her know that in no uncertain terms in the best way he knew how...he was going to surprise her by going through the well, meeting her under the tree, and declare his love truly for her and only for her. In the pocket of his red kimono was a very special gift that was given to him by a jewel maker after he, Miroku, and Sango rid her village of a huge snake demon. It was a simple chain of silver with a piece of red quartz dangling in the center. Using his claws, he had formed the quartz into the shape of a heart and carved Kagome's initials into it. This necklace was going to be part of his plan for the ultimate proof of his forever love for her and her alone…..right after he presented her with it, he was going to ask her to marry him! Sango, Miroku, and Shippo had been thrilled beyond belief to hear the happy news and were now following along behind him to give him encouragement, at the moment he was nervous beyond belief. He took a bath in the hot springs that morning, making sure it lasted extra long, and with Sango's help he had wrapped the necklace in bright red paper. Now they were finally on their way.
"I can't believe you're finally gonna ask Kagome to marry you!" Shippo said excitedly. "This is the best day ever!!"
"Yeah," Inuyasha said nervously as the well approached his view.
"Relax, Inuyasha," Miroku said. "As soon as she sees that necklace, she'll jump right into your arms!" Inuyasha and the others reached the well, and Miroku said, "This is it, Inuyasha...your destiny waits on the other side of the well. Good luck, my friend...I'll see you and Kagome soon."
Inuyasha replied, "Thanks, Miroku. I can't believe this is actually happening...I've been so confused over Kagome and Kikyo for so long...only now have I finally realized where my heart truly belongs. I love Kagome so much, and I plan to make that totally clear to her when I ask her to be my wife."
Shippo said, "We'll all be here waiting for you, Inuyasha...tell Kagome that I said hello."
Inuyasha ruffled the kitsune's hair gently, and then he said, "You got it, kid. I'll make sure she brings back a bag of those potato chips that ya like."
Shippo smiled, and Sango said, "I'm sure she'll be happy to have you admit your love for her, Inuyasha. Kagome's told me that she loves you several times, and I've seen how much she loves you...and how much you love her. If there's anything I can do to help you, just name it...you're like a brother to me...and Kagome's like a sister." Sango sighed a bit enviously. "I only wish we could be there in person to see it. You're so lucky to get to go in there, Inuyasha. All I've ever seen in that era are the pictures in Kagome's books."
"Yeah," Miroku agreed. "She's shared so much information about her time...if only we could visit, just once. Just to experience what she does."
"I'd love it if you could myself," Inuyasha said. He looked at the well. "Hmm…ya know...I was thinking.."
"About what?" Miroku asked.
"Well, I can go through the well because of my connection to Kagome…but if you held on to me when I jumped…maybe you all could go in with me!"
Shippo perked up his ears. "Can we really?"
"We can try it," Miroku said.
"I'm willing," Sango said.
"OK, let's see if that works," Inuyasha said. "After all…this is gonna be one of the most important things I've ever done...and I want you all there with me. OK, Shippo, get on my back," he waited until the fox demon did so. "OK, Sango, take my hand. Miroku, take the other one. Hold on REAL tight. When I say three, we all jump into the well at the same time. DO NOT let go of my hands."
"Wow, this is so exciting!" Shippo said. "Kagome is gonna be SO surprised!"
"Just brace yourself," Sango said. "From what I read in Kagome's books, this is a totally different place."
"It's a whole other world, believe me," Inuyasha agreed. "OK, hang on, here we go."
Sango said, "Wait…one more thing before we go…"
Inuyasha answered, "What is it, Sango?"
With a smile on her face, Sango said, "I just want to take this opportunity to wish you all the luck in the world and to thank you for being such a wonderful friend all this time, and for trusting me even after the way I stole Tetsusaiga from you, when Naraku offered my brother in exchange."
I
nuyasha replied, "Think nothing of it, Sango…you've saved my life, Kagome's life, and the rest of our lives lots of times, you're a great fighter, and I can count a whole bunch of times when one or more of us would be dead if not for you. You're always there when we need you, Sango…don't ever forget that."
With a smile, Sango replied, "Thanks, Inuyasha…that really makes me feel great. You're one of my best friends too, and I'll always be your friend, no matter what."
Inuyasha hugged the demon slayer, and Kirara meowed from her perch on Sango's right shoulder. The half-demon reached over and gently rubbed her behind her left ear, and Kirara purred softly. She jumped onto Inuyasha's shoulder and licked his cheek.
Sango smiled, and she'd just accepted Kirara back from Inuyasha, when the firecat hissed and jumped to the ground...meaning that trouble was nearby. Inuyasha pulled out Tetsusaiga, Miroku readied his staff, while Shippo got himself set. Sango went behind a bush and donned her slayer armor, and finally, Kikyo walked out, surrounded by an army of demons. She said, "Going to visit my copy on the other side of the well, Inuyasha...I don't think so. I've got special plans for you...and for her. First...I'll let my friends play with you."
Inuyasha shouted, "KIKYO…GET LOST!! I NO LONGER HAVE ANY FEELINGS FOR YOU...NONE WHATSOEVER!! I LOVE KAGOME, AND I'M ABOUT TO HEAD OVER THERE AND LET HER KNOW JUST HOW MUCH SHE MEANS TO ME."
Kikyo replied, "No, Inuyasha...revenge will be mine. I plan to cause you to die slow and painful...and you'll never see her again. Now then...boys, GET THEM, but leave the half-breed to me."
A massive three-eyed demon charged straight towards Kirara, only to have the firecat leap into the air and rake her claws down the monster's back. Sango finished it by hurling her boomerang through its midsection, to the call of "HIRAIKOTSU!!" She then sliced seven more apart with her katana, and three more got their throats slashed by Sango's hidden blade in her arm gauntlet. Another demon charged her from behind, but Kirara crushed the beast's head in her jaws.
A huge swarm of demons went after Miroku, but the monk cut several of them down with his staff, burned at least sixty with his sacred sutras, and finally, he called out "WIND TUNNEL", sucking over four hundred of the beasts into his cursed hand.
Shippo saw ten snake demons and several demon yellow jackets coming his way, and he called out "FOX FIRE!!", incinerating the lot of them. He'd grown rather powerful of late, since he'd been practicing.
Inuyasha tore fifty demons to pieces with his claws, another one got it's head caved in with his bare fist, and he broke another demon's spine over his knee. The final demon stepped in front of him, and it said, "If you wish to go to the well, you must first defeat me. I will delight in carrying your human play toy off to our friend, once Kikyo is done with her plan."
Inuyasha shouted, "BASTARD!! NOBODY IS GONNA TOUCH KAGOME BUT ME...GOT THAT?! I LOVE HER, AND NOTHING'S GONNA STOP ME FROM BEING TOGETHER WITH THE ONE I LOVE!! NOW GET THE HELL OUTTA MY WAY!! ADAMANT BARRAGE!!"
A huge storm of six-foot long diamond spears impaled the demon, and it fell over, dead.
Sango said, "Kikyo, it looks like you've lost. Why don't you just get out of here now, before I send Kirara up there to kill you?"
With an evil smirk, Kikyo said, "Oh…I'VE lost…I don't think so. In fact…my victory begins…NOW!!"
Before anyone could react, Kikyo loaded an arrow into her bow and fired, straight at Inuyasha. Sango tried to leap into the way and use her Hiraikotsu to shield her friend, but it was too late. The arrow lanced into the half-demon's arm, and he went down, screaming in pain as his arm burned like it had been lit on fire.
Kikyo laughed intensely from her position in the tree where she had teleported and floated down. "I did it!! I did it!"
"Did what you bitch?!" Miroku said.
"ARRGH…my arm…what the hell, Kikyo…"
"What's the matter you traitor? Can't deal with the pain?! Some demon you are! That was easier than I thought!"
"KIKYO, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!?!" Sango yelled.
"Only my greatest spell I ever did! In case you've been wondering where I was this entire time, I've been practicing and perfecting my magic..and I finally was able to create the best magic spell ever! The Black Hate of Death!" She pulled out an arrow. "With just one hit of this arrow, the most deadly poison was just released, destined to slowly kill him but by bit in three days!!"
"YOU NASTY, HORRID…" Sango said, charging at her.
"Not one more step, or I'll hit all of you! I'm the only one who has the antidote to this…which you will NEVER know!" She quickly teleported to the other side of the well before Sango could reach her.
Kikyo smiled smugly from where she had teleported and laughed menacingly. "Admit it, there's nothing you can do to get the antidote. At last, revenge is all mine! Nothing on Earth can stop this!" Suddenly an all too familiar blue-white light began to glow from a few feet away. "Why does this place love to prove me wrong? All rise, everyone, the King of Happiness is approaching!" She turned around as the familiar tall, dominating figure came forward, followed by his toad retainer and human ward. "Hello, Sesshomaru."
The Demon Lord glared at her. "What is all of this disturbance I have been sensing?" He narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing on my lands, Kikyo?"
"Oh, are we trespassing? Please do forgive me. Rest assured, as soon as we clean up around here, we'll gladly be on our way."
"Clean up? What are you talking about, Kikyo? Remove yourself from my land, you're unwelcome here!"
Kikyo pretended to pout a bit. "Now, is that anyway to thank me for fulfilling your wildest dreams?"
"You destroyed Naraku and have his body down there?" Sesshomaru said sarcastically.
"No, your other dream!" Kikyo said, melodramatically, stepping aside to show him the sight of Inuyasha trying to stand up while grasping his arm and gritting his teeth with a pale white face, finally falling down on the ground.
Sesshomaru gasped. He glared at Kikyo. "What did you DO to him?"
"A small peace offering from me to you, it's your dream come true! Isn't this what you've always wanted?"
"All I want right now is for you to leave my lands, AFTER you tell me what you have done to my brother."
Kikyo grabbed one of the arrows from her pack. "Look, listen, and learn! As they," she pointed, "know already, I have introduced your brother to my newest spell, the Black Hate of Death! As you can no doubt tell, I already shot him in the arm. This is the most deadly poison that has ever been made...you haven't seen the like of it before, and no one shall ever see it again! I shot him in the arm…and as we speak the poison is working its way into his stomach…and his legs...and his hips…and soon ..by the third day...his heart!"
Miroku was hunching over Inuyasha, holding the arm in his lap with Shippo's help, trying to use his powers to slow down the potion. "Sango, all I can do is slow this down...I can't stop it! I can't reverse what she's done!"
"Oh no!" Shippo cried out.
"What kind of fool do you take me for?! Of COURSE your powers won't work on it! I made sure of that!"
Sesshomaru stepped forward. "If his powers won't, mine will!" He pulled out Tensaiga.
"Oh, don't bother with that! I can almost assure you, that will not work."
"What are you talking about, Kikyo?"
"You don't think I wouldn't take all necessary precautions, did you? Not even your sword can work!"
"Kikyo…"
Miroku gasped at what he suddenly began to notice. "Uh, Sango? Is this the night of the new moon?"
Sango turned. "No, it's the night of a half moon. Why?"
Miroku pointed to where Inuyasha lay. "LOOK!" Shippo screamed.
Sango gasped. "OH MY GOD!!!" For patches of black were slowly forming in Inuyasha hair, and his golden eyes were slowly turning violet.
Kikyo laughed. "Oh, did I forget to mention? Oh, how thoughtless of me! You see, that's another side effect of the spell! Seeing as how he's made up of two parts, the poison is slowly getting rid of both parts, starting with the demon part of him. By the middle of the second day, only his human part will remain. By sunset of the third day...he'll be dead!"
"GOD DAMN YOU, KIKYO!!!" Sango screamed, hurling the Hiraikotsu, which Kikyo avoided by teleporting out of it's way…but Sesshomaru managed to arrive where she was before she could blink and grabbed her arm.
"Kikyo, you will tell me how to reverse this curse, now. If not, I will kill you. Nobody harms my brother and lives…ESPECIALLY on MY lands."
The undead priestess smirked, and she said, "Sesshomaru…now why are you so upset? You've said so yourself…you HATE him…DESPISE him…you've tried to kill him, and threatened to do so on several occasions…MANY more than I have. You're just in a sour mood because I got him first. Look at it this way…you'll still be able to have him stuffed and mounted in the main room of your castle…if the slayer, her overgrown tabby cat, or the monk don't kill you first."
Sesshomaru released his grip on Kikyo's arm, but before she could think to teleport, the Demon Lord grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against a nearby tree…hard. He said, "I shall ask you again…how do I remove this curse that you have inflicted upon my brother?"
Jaken said, "YOU HAD BEST DO AS MY LORD SESSHOMARU ORDERS, YOU UNDEAD WITCH…OR YOU SHALL FACE HIS MIGHTY WRATH!!"
Kikyo retorted with, "I'm not in the least bit afraid of you, imp. SHUT UP!!"
Sesshomaru made sure that his face was right in front of Kikyo's, and he growled out, "HE is not the one you should fear, Kikyo…I am. I can rip you to pieces in seconds…and I WILL end your existence, unless you tell me how my brother can be cured. Talk, Kikyo…or you WILL die."
"Oh, please, you're not fooling anyone!" Kikyo retorted. "The only reason you want that antidote is just so you can take his life yourself the very moment you save it! You just can't accept the fact that YOU lost and someone else beat you to the kill."
Sesshomaru growled and shoved her up against the tree. "The antidote now, this is NOT a request."
"And if I don't?"
"I shall rip you apart with my own hand."
"Try it and your brother will die for sure. In case you didn't listen the first time, I'm the ONLY one who has the antidote…and even if I were to go mad and give it to you, you wouldn't be able to administer it. It only can work by using two thing you sadly weren't born with- compassion and a heart! You know a HEART, Sesshomaru…that tiny little organ in your body that enables you to actually FEEL!"
"I DO have a heart, Kikyo, get on with it. As you may or may not have heard, Kikyo, I have adopted a human ward...THAT requires a heart and compassion!!"
"You expect me to believe that?! You'll say anything in order to get the upper hand, won't you?"
"Jaken?"
"Yes, mi Lord?"
"Go get Rin, bring her here. But keep her a good distance away." Jaken bowed and brought her back a moment later. Sesshomaru said, "Kikyo, meet Rin."
"My, my, what a charming young lady. What's she doing around you?"
"I told you before Kikyo, she is my ward."
"Ward?!"
"Yes. I believe my brother's intended has another word for it. I believe she said I adopted her."
"Adopted? Well, that's a cute little word. You'll do anything to make yourself look good, won't you?"
"Don't talk about Lord Sesshomaru that way!" Rin said. "He DID save me, and I DO live with him! He's telling the truth!"
"I see she learned her manners from you, Sesshomaru."
"You do as he says you mean lady, tell us how to cure Inuyasha."
"Why?" In answer Sesshomaru tightened his grip around her throat. His fingers started to glow green as Sango took a firm hold on the Hiraikotsu, Miroku held his hand on his beads covering his Wind Tunnel. "The cure, Kikyo, NOW, or face my poison claws!"
"One way or another, you'll cause your brother's death, won't you? Even if you find the cure, you'll kill him as soon as he's well, just so YOU can say you did it! Sour grapes, not very becoming of a Mighty Lord!"
Sesshomaru growled. "I shall crush your neck with my bare hands, Kikyo. Slowly, painfully, so I can hear each bone break...now, the cure!"
Kirara had grown full size and was hovering over Inuyasha, gently licking his arm.
"Kirara…stay with me," Inuyasha moaned as he tried again to reach the Tetsusaiga, but his arm was by this time stiff and swollen and every inch he tried to move was absolute agony. Shippo tried to help Inuyasha raise the massive sword, but it was just too much. The little kitsune said, "I'm…I'm sorry, Inuyasha…it's too heavy…I can't lift it."
Inuyasha groaned again, gritting his teeth as more waves of pain ripped through his body.
"Ha, it works! My poison works!" She then gasped as Sesshomaru started to apply pressure to her neck. "Yeah, go ahead! Go ahead and do this…do this and never see your brother ever again, not that you really love him. Oh, right, I forgot, no one can harm him except for you, isn't that it? Well, I'm not giving it. If there's one thing I can't stand is a sore loser."
Incensed, Sesshomaru replied, "I am NOT a sore loser, Kikyo…and if you wish to go on with your miserable excuse for an existence, give us the cure, or I will find a VERY painful method of getting you to provide me with the information that I desire."
Kikyo replied, "Not a chance…he deserves to die for all he's done. He attacked me after Naraku possessed him…I don't ever think he truly loved me to begin with…he just waited until my back was turned, so he could accomplish his real plan…steal the jewel and kill me. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Naraku planned this whole thing. If Kagome is stupid enough to love him in spite of him being a wretched half-breed freak, then I truly do pity her. I'm doing you AND her a favor by killing him…so I'd appreciate a 'Thank You'."
Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red, but briefly, and then he pulled out Tensaiga. He said, "I want the antidote, Kikyo…or I shall show you the true power of this sword. It does not only revive the dead…it can also DESTROY the undead…meaning you. If this blade comes in contact with you, it will obliterate you utterly. Perhaps a demonstration is in order…"
He lightly pressed the point of Tensaiga against Kikyo's right shoulder, and the blade pulsed a bright blue-white. Kikyo screamed, as waves of pain shot through her. Sesshomaru withdrew the sword from her skin, and sheathed it, before he renewed his grip on her neck.
Sesshomaru pinned Kikyo full on to the tree. "Now, the antidote, witch!" She felt bones start to snap as excruciating pain began to shoot through her. "Aggh…all right…all RIGHT! But the only one who can do this is his destined soul mate….in other words, his one true love. Seeing as how this is the Black Hate of Death, the only cure for that is pure love. His true love must go to him, place her hands over his heart, and channel her love into him. Only then the spell can be lifted, but she only has until sunset on the third day, or else he will die." Rin gasped.
"I suppose we should say thank you," Sango said sarcastically.
"Se…Sesshomaru.." Inuyasha gasped, again trying to stand up, "Quick, Sesshomaru…you're my brother…you...try to go through the well! Quick, jump in! You're my brother….I've got a connection to Kagome, maybe you do too!"
"You're going with me, brother," Sesshomaru ran to Inuyasha and helped him onto his back. As they were heading for the well, however, Kikyo pointed toward the well, and a bolt of her dark spiritual energy shot through her arm, breaking the well into pieces. Shippo screamed.
"No!" Sango cried.
"There, now let's see you go through!"
Inuyasha slid off Sesshomaru's back. "Sesshomaru, touch the tree! I can communicate with Kagome by touching the tree, you're my brother, maybe you can…oh God.." he sank down on his knees and held his stomach. "God...quick…do it.."
"Very well," but as he placed his hand on the tree, a burning sensation caused him to pull his hand away. "Aggh."
"Ha, do you REALLY think I'd leave the tree unguarded? There's a barrier around the tree. If anyone touches it, their hand gets burned off!"
"DAMN YOU, KIKYO! HIRAIKOTSU!!" Sango hurled her boomerang, which Kikyo ducked by teleporting. But Sesshomaru pinned her up against the tree.
"THIS time I AM going to kill you, Kikyo! Not slowly or painlessly...RIGHT NOW!!" His claws began to glow green…when the air was suddenly filled with wolf howls! The noise was so loud Sesshomaru had to let go of Kikyo and put his hands over his ears. Inuyasha had to do the same. Kirara had to put her paws over her ears as well as Shippo. Kikyo took that opportunity to teleport to the top of a tree.
"Those who spell and run away, live to spell another day!" With that, she left in a red glow. Sango tried to hurl her boomerang, just missing her. Sesshomaru slammed his fist against a tree, knocking it completely over.
"DAMN HER!!" Sango yelled.
Inuyasha groaned loudly and held his stomach. "I…I'm sick...oh God, I'm sick…I'm SICK! I..I feel sick.." he doubled over with nausea. Miroku helped him up and took him into the bushes just in time. A few seconds later the sound of retching could clearly be heard from the bushes, causing Sango and Shippo to cringe, and Sesshomaru to gasp.
"Uh…OK, don't panic, don't panic...no one panic, just stay calm," Shippo said. "All we have to do is…put the well back together somehow...yeah.." he dashed over to where the ruined well was and tried to fit the pieces back together. Rin came over to help. But the wood had been pretty much smashed into such tiny parts, they couldn't fit together!
"Uh…uh...I can't do it, Shippo!" Rin said.
"Keep trying! We have to keep trying!!" Shippo said, sweating profusely.
"It's no use, guys," Sango said. "It's a spell she put on it. It can't be fixed."
"No," Shippo said, in tears. "Does that mean…we'll never see Kagome again?"
Finally Miroku helped a moaning Inuyasha out of the bushes.
"Uh…don't anyone go over there for a while," Miroku said. "No, no, take it easy…lie down, you have to lie down." Inuyasha groaned in pain, holding his arm.
"Oh God…my arm...my stomach…what the hell did she do?!"
Sesshomaru came over and knelt beside him. "Let me see it, brother," he slowly lifted up Inuyasha kimono and gasped. "My God." His arm had already swollen up to at least twice its normal size. It was blood red and absolutely covered with white scales! Kirara, still in full size, licked Inuyasha's arm to let him know she was there to take care of him, licked his cheek once, and helped him onto her back. "Quick, take him to my castle," Sesshomaru said. "My servants can make him comfortable."
Miroku climbed up behind him. "I'll prepare some potions to help ease the pain. Shippo, you'd better come too, I might need help gathering herbs." Shippo climbed up on Kirara and she took off.
Rin, Sango, and Sesshomaru stared after her. "What are we going to do?" Rin said, in tears.
Sesshomaru turned. "There is only one thing we can do. We have to go see Kaede. She's the only one who might be able to help us."
"Yes," Sango agreed. "We have to see her right away. There's not a second to lose!"
"Pssh," Jaken said. "Mi Lord, if you don't mind me asking, are we going to try to help that half-breed…"
"No, Jaken," Sesshomaru corrected him angrily. "We're going to help my BROTHER."
"But, Sire, that half-breed was the one who chopped off your arm and…"
"Jaken!"
"Yes, Sir?" he trembled a bit. Sesshomaru picked him up.
"As of right now you will NO LONGER refer to him as a half breed! His name is Inuyasha, and you will address him as that or my brother...do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir," He trembled.
"Good," he dropped Jaken. "Now, let's go."
Jaken stood in one place and watched them start off. "What is going on with my Lord Sesshomaru?! He never used to act like this, especially when it concerned that half-breed brother of his! I don't like this, maybe that witch put a spell on him as well, if I go with him, I may wind up dead! "Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken called out then. Sesshomaru stopped and turned around. After a small pause... "GOOD LUCK, MI LORD!" He called out.
SLAP!!
"Let's go, Jaken!"
"Coming, Mi Lord!" Jaken called out, toddling behind while rubbing his growing lump on his head.
'I asked her to stay
But she wouldn't listen
She left before I had the chance to say (Oh-oh)
The words that would mend
The things that were broken
But now it's far too late, she's gone away
Every night you cried yourself to sleep
Thinking: "Why does this happen to me?
Why does every moment have to be so hard?"
Hard to believe it
It's not over tonight
Just give me one more chance to make it right
I may not make it through the night
I won't go home without you
The taste of her breath, I'll never get over
The noises that she made kept me awake (Oh)
The weight of the things that remained unspoken
Built up so much it crushed us everyday
Every night you cried yourself to sleep
Thinking: "Why does this happen to me?
Why does every moment have to be so hard?"
Hard to believe it
It's not over tonight
Just give me one more chance to make it right
I may not make it through the night
I won't go home without you (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not over tonight
Just give me one more chance to make it right
I may not make it through the night
I won't go home without you (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Of all the things I felt but never really showed
Perhaps the worst is that I ever let you go
I should not ever let you go (oh-oh-oh)
It's not over tonight
Just give me one more chance to make it right
I may not make it through the night
I won't go home without you (oh-oh-oh-oh)
It's not over tonight
Just give me one chance to make it right
I may not make it through the night
I won't go home without you
And I won't go home without you
And I won't go home without you
I won't go home without you.'
Once they reached Kaede's hut, Sango stopped. There was a loud "Mew!" and Kirara, in her little kitten form, came back and settled on Sango's shoulder. She turned to Sesshomaru. "Let me go in first and tell Kaede what's happened. She's known me the longest so I should be the one to break the news."
He nodded. "Very well." Sango went over and knocked on the doorframe.
"Who is it?" came Kaede's soft accent.
"It's Sango, Kaede. May I come in?"
"Why, Sango! Of course, Dear! Come right in, I'll make some tea." She lifted the flap and went in.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked.
"Yes?"
"Is Inuyasha…going to die?"
Sesshomaru faced the hut. "Not if I can help it, Rin. He will NOT die...I'll do whatever needs to be done."
Jaken came up then. "Pardon me, Mi Lord?"
"What is it?" he asked worriedly.
"There's no question in my mind that Kikyo has perfected her black magic spells to dangerous point. This new demonstration proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that to defeat her we need all the help we can get."
After a pause...
"Your point is?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Oh! My point…what was my point…I suppose my mind is growing weaker with age!"
Sango settled herself onto the floor of Kaede's hut, and she said, "Kaede, I need to speak with you…it's urgent."
Kaede said, "What's happened, Sango…you look worried…more like terrified."
Sango took a few deep breaths to calm herself, and Kirara meowed from her lap. As she gently caressed the two-tailed firecat, Sango said, "Kaede…Inuyasha…he's…oh God…"
Kaede said, "Would you like some tea, Sango…perhaps that will help you get your thoughts in order."
Sango smiled, and she replied, "Yes, please…I could use a nice hot cup right about now."
Kaede went out back and grabbed two cups, and then she crushed up some tea leaves and put them into the cups. She came back out with a bottle of water that Kagome had given to her on her last visit, and she poured it into the pot that sat on top of her hut's fire pit. Before long, Kaede poured the sweet-smelling mixture into the cups, and Sango accepted hers. She took a sip, and said, "Thank you, Kaede…I needed that, especially after what happened."
The elderly priestess got herself comfortable, and she said, "You mentioned that something had happened to Inuyasha. What's the matter with him, Sango?"
The demon slayer replied, "He's…he's been badly hurt, Kaede…it was Kikyo. We were on our way to the Bone-Eaters' Well, and Inuyasha was planning to go and surprise Kagome by telling her that he'd realized his true feelings for her. Inuyasha also said that since we're all such close friends of both him and Kagome, we might be able to pass through the Well with him, and we all decided that we'd love to go and witness Inuyasha confess his love to her…but just before we could go in, Kikyo showed up with a huge swarm of demons. We all killed her pack of miscreants, but she used the distraction to shoot an arrow into Inuyasha's arm…one that she'd made just for him. Kaede…it's slowly killing him by destroying both halves of him…human and demon. By the second day, his demon half will be totally gone, and by sunset of the third day…he'll be…dead. It's called the Black Hate of Death, Kaede…and only his destined soulmate can cure him by channeling her love into his heart. Miroku tried to use his sacred powers to stop it…nothing."
Kaede gasped. She said, "Oh my…this is terrible. I knew that this…creature that looks like my sister was cold…but I never thought she would do anything like this. Why didn't you go through the Well and bring him to Kagome?"
Sango had tears in her eyes, and she said, "Kikyo…destroyed the Well, Kaede…and she also put a barrier up around the Sacred Tree. We can't contact Kagome in any way…that's why I…we came to seek your help, Kaede."
"We, Sango? Miroku and Shippo are here with you?"
"No, Kaede. They went to stay with Inuyasha…someone..else is here with me."