Author's Note: Thanks for my two reviers… off to a good start . To be honest I really felt like discontinuing the story but then again I re-played FF8 and I got inspiration (haha). For those who are waiting for a Sesshoumaru-Rin encounter, lol sorry but you're going to have to wait (not for too long, though). I bring you chapter 2 of Succession of Witches!
By the way I was wondering if you guys ever questioned Rin's age. I didn't say anything about it on purpose, but if you guys are curious, she's not a little kid (xD).
WARNING: VIOLENCE AND AN ALMOST RAPE HAPPENS. But it's not that bad so don't worry.
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Chapter 2: Her Lady's Sorrow
"How many casualties were there?"
The man looked around the gothic cathedral with awe and disgust. Its beautiful art and magic was tainted with the blood of obsessed monks.
"Around 35…" he answered monotonously. Takemaru felt his face flush his face. The 20 dead guards he assigned, as Heian Kyo's general, were weak and useless based on evidence put before him, and the monks seemed to have died the heretics they were.
Around the room were 10 professionals investigating the massacre, searching for an answer of who could've done such a cruel deed. The stained glass window built on the wall behind the altar was smashed to pieces, revealing the warm glow of sunlight; its golden shine giving warmth to the death-reeking cathedral.
"Tell me about that monk in the altar," Takemaru ordered.
An old investigator next to him cupped his chin as if in thought. "It looks like suicide."
Takemaru gave a slight smirk, finding the cause of death to be a bit comical. "Why bother with suicide? It seems that all the other deaths were quick based on wounds found on them." He was done with the place. Unlike most humans, he did not believe in such a religion and always knew that those who followed it would find themselves hypnotized in front of death's eyes. Before exiting through the heavy wooden doors, he studied the corpses that lay aghast in the hallway. Surely not all of them could've died…
"Are there any survivors?"
The investigator squinted his eyes at the official. "Well… look around, sir. It seems all of them have either had their heads chopped off or their hearts impaled."
Takemaru turned to him in annoyance, wary of his mockery. "Surely this castle isn't only filled with 35 people. It's large enough to house about a 100!"
The old man felt irritated with his young superior. He felt his ridicule jump back at him. "Well what do you want me to do, young master?" His brow rising in question.
"This cathedral would have a list of its residents… am I correct?"
Myoga pondered in his memory, searching for the answer. "Well… normally, any house giving residency to a significant amount of people would usually have a list of its residents."
Takemaru's eyes were fixated on Myoga as they waited for a more elaborate answer.
"Sir!" One of the investigator's voices called out running to Takemaru. His attention quickly switched to the other man. "What is it?" he asked with a temperamental tone.
"There was a monk hiding in the confession room left of the altar."
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On one of the wooden walls of the confession room hung an oil painting of Aishou herself. It was a beautiful yet dark painting of Aishou as a young maiden calling out to the dark heavens with her silver hands raised in the skies, her raven hair swaying in the wind, and undead minions on earth clinging to her legs, frozen in time. It never hit Takemaru how striking Aishou was for in the portrait her porcelain face was aglow in what seemed to be the darkest of nights and her eyes shone gold, a very atrocious color for eyes.
Takemaru took off his eyes off the painting to stare at a crazed monk, sweating frantically as if in an endless fever while sitting apprehensively on a chair. The monk then looked back at Takemaru, a handsome yet fearsome human being with a presence that seemed overpowering. His brown eyes had a red glow upon them as they pierced the poor monk's soul with a deadly glare.
"Would you kindly tell us what you saw?" His voiced was heinous and demanding, yet there was a seductive evil in it, like an ingenious tyrant whose charisma could overpower any human soul.
The monk was now shaking, deciding whether to spit out the truth or speak a lie. Small red lines formed around his eyes as fear made his very veins fall in pain. "They're…" his voice quaked, "they're … out…"
Takemaru stepped closer to the monk with his metal boots clicking on the floor, kneeling down next to him so that their eyes could meet. It was necessary, in his opinion, in order to find truth from lie. "Out … what?"
The witness was starting to feel queasy. Takemaru's towering gaze reminded him of the demon who sacked the cathedral. "t-…t-to… g-get …h-her." He closed his eyes trying to make sense of his inarticulate words.
"Get what?" Takemaru's fierce hands clutched the poor monk's weak shoulders while Myoga, who stands next to the door leading to the cathedral, watched the interrogation with such apprehension.
Before the monk could finish his statement, he suddenly remembered those dark words uttered by the ruthless demon whose crimson eyes reflected the blood he splattered on the sacred floors of the cathedral. "I will spare you if you tell them…" His words ran through his mind, making him unsure whether to obey and lie for the demon or tell the truth to the interrogator. "Tell them… lead me to… her."
Tears slithered down his face. "Save her, my lord!" he cried in a whisper.
Takemaru was confused. Whatever a woman had to do with such a massacre seemed unreal for they were never allowed to enter such holy homes that housed so many celibate men. Priestesses, however, were a different matter for they were always kept in a locked annex.
"An orphan…" his tears poured down like rain from his clouded eyes. "She… an orphan… from the … Southern… islands…" His breath grew rugged trying to tell the truth. "The demons want to kill her my lord! They spared me so they could kill her!"
He slowly recalled the traumatic events.
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"Do you think she's not so far?"
From the confession room he could hear their voices. A man and a woman, committing the murderous crimes against such holy men. He started to gasp in nervousness and fright for he knew who exactly they were talking about. The orphan from the southern islands.
"I think…" the woman spoke, but it seemed she was cut off.
"Wait, Kagura. There seems to be… an eavesdropper amongst us."
The monk gulped heavily from where he sat in a corner of the confession room. He closed his eyes and prayed in his mind for Aishou's protection. Silently fear engulfed his heart as he vigilantly prayed for damnation to stray from his own fate.
"You won't mind helping me find her, do you?"
The monk opened his eyes to find the demon himself staring him in the eyes. He let out a yelp as he screamed.
The demon seemed to have been amused for he smirked. "Kagura, maybe we can make our jobs easier?"
The woman who stood right at the door just monotonously gazed at her master and their victim with her blood-red eyes.
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Rin felt a throb of pain as she awoke from a darkness that encaged her. Through her unconsciousness it seemed she had dreamt the same dream, except this time there were more recent events.
"You're not safe anymore, Rin-chan… you must flee to Heian Kyo…"
A tear fell upon her bound hands, the sadness of the memory drowning out the laughs of the cruel bandits as they beat her. She lay on the grass, bruised and defeated, with blood trickling down her head mixing with her ebony hair. It seemed that she was never safe in the first place.
Suddenly, all her emotions and thoughts were disrupted when she felt a strong hand grab her knees, pulling her legs open. "No!" She sat up, kicking her legs trying to push away who ever dared touch her. The frustrated bandit smacked her face, sending her back to the ground.
"Foolish girl," he uttered mischievously. There were other men besides him, all surrounding her. Their hands grabbed her body, holding her down in order to prevent anymore resistance.
"Please!" she begged almost crying. Her eyes could see the lust and want that emanated from the men. Their sweaty and corpulent hands ripped her yukata apart, revealing her nakedness. Never has she felt so vulnerable until now. The fear of being forced and used crept in her mind as she shut her eyes tightly, not wanting to experience or see what they're about to do.
In the gloom of her mind, her soul curled into a ball, wrenching the pain in her heart. What am I to do… What am I to do… Aishou-sama…
"Hmph… you were always so useless without me," a woman maliciously called out in her consciousness. A presence seemed to have touched her brain. Rin felt the powerful entity take over her heart as a deep sleep entered her once more as a cynical laugh echoed in her ears.
In the deep forest, a heart beat thumped, sounding out throughout the vast region. Everything was still and silent except for the vibration caused by the thumping heart beat.
The bandits were confused. Immediately their hearts welled up in fear as they noticed the girl they were about to ravage, went through a change.
Rin's eyelids slowly opened. Her once almond orbs now transformed into translucent amber shining with the light of death. Her body slowly rose in a robotic manner as if the existence inside of her did not know now to control her body.
The bandits gawked at the girl, rising to their feet and taking a step backwards, unsure whether or not it was safe to come near her. The very air they breathed was intoxicated with an invisible miasma, carrying the scent of the rotting dead.
Her head cocked to the side, giving a strange look to her captors. "Foolish humans." Her voice was different. It wasn't childish and innocent at all! The tone carried a weight of sorrow, hatred, and seduction.
Filled with cowardice's heart, their knees weakened, prompting them to fall on the earth. Just being near her was frightening. It's as if the weight of the world was on their shoulders and the death reaper himself guided her with his powers.
"Please!" they yelled.
Her naked body rose, drawing closer to them. The prey now became the predator as her bloodlust pierced the very core of their minds. "Please what?"
In a matter of seconds, thousands of agonizing screams penetrated the air as blood soaked the earth with its malice.
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Sesshoumaru watched the whole scene with a bored expression next to a tree near the camp site of the bandits while Jaken hid behind his master, feeling the desperate want of death that emerged from the young woman.
How monstrous! What kind of human is she?! To put such a fear in a demon like me! Jaken glanced at Sesshoumaru, awed by his deadpan expression. HA! But even a human like that can't frighten him A new found confidence built up in Jaken, who now stopped hiding and stood right by his master's side.
The woman finished off the last bandit by penetrating his chest with her bare hands, clawing out his heart. Then, she recklessly dropped the prominent organ on the grass and crushing it with her feet, making sure to grind it into pieces. Humans… so despicable and disgusting. She breathed deeply, taking in the air that she hasn't breathed for more than a few hundred years.
Slowly turning around to leave, Sesshoumaru walked back to his path, finding his entertaining bloodbath to be over, with Jaken following along like a tale on the dog.
"Going so soon… Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked seductively. Her voice swelled with curiosity and suspicion of his presence. "How unkind of Sesshoumaru-sama."
Sesshoumaru turned back to her, his eyes glowering to look at the woman now only 3 feet away from him, when just a second ago she was yards away.
Shocked, Jaken once again hid behind Sesshoumaru for fear of his life and well-being.
"I see you haven't changed." She smiled with a sweetness stained with the blood of murderers.
He continued to gawk dully, not interested in the woman whose naked body was bathed in red. "I have no time for humans." His strong, yet bored voice irritated her, but she wasn't going to easily let him go.
"Why, have you forgotten your long lost friend?" her tone was friendly and disappointed but anyone could spot the amusement in her eyes.
The green toad was wondering what a woman would have to do with his master. His yellow orbs bulged with the black-slits thinning. "Sesshoumaru-sama?" He looked at the dog demon, waiting for a reply. What came next was so terrifying and shocking that Jaken couldn't believe what he saw… Sesshoumaru was smirking!
"This Sesshoumaru never was acquainted with a hanyou so weak and disgraceful as Aishou."
Aishou pouted, using her charm for mockery, "Why so mean Sesshoumaru-sama?! This Aishou was always so kind, yet you repay me with such insults!"
Aishou?! The surprises didn't seem to end for Jaken. His mouth widened with each new turn of events.
Sesshoumaru made a "feh" sound, ignoring Aishou and her annoyance. "A dead and fraud hanyou housed by a human's body does not deserve my attention."
She moved towards him, holding out her blood soaked hands. "Is that so?" Her fingers touched Sesshoumaru's face, staining his alabaster skin with blood as she caressed him. Her eyes showed a deep hatred and anger as she said with fury "Then humble my presence, Sesshoumaru-sama, and kill me!"
The anger slowly dissipated as the amber orbs slowly disappeared and the presence of death vanished in the midst of the air. Aishou seemed to have returned in the depths of the young woman's body, for her golden eyes slowly withered into an innocent brown.. And in an instant, her eyes closed… her energy exhausted.
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"Rin-chan, you're not safe here anymore," the matron of the temple orphanage told her with much hesitation.
Rin looked at the music box she was toying with as she sat on her bed in her bleak room. "Is it because… of Aishou-sama?"
The young woman's face hardened. "You have power Rin-chan." She sat on the bed next to her and cupped her face gently. "That power within you is linear to your growth. The older you are the more powerful she gets."
Rin hugged her in nostalgia. The very woman who raised her since her mother's death was telling her to leave.
"I've raised you since you were little," she continued while clutching the child. "And now you're a young woman. At the same time, the entity inside of you will eat you away… If you don't go…" Tears welled in her gray eyes. "Aishou-sama will slowly kill you inside."
Sorrow and devastation rang in her heart. For once she understood why the very goddess they worshipped was named as Sorrow. It's because anything Aishou-sama caused, felt, and had was nothing but sorrow.
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Jaken pitifully looked at the girl before him. Sitting by the fire, he continued to cook the fish he caught in a river nearby. The moon provided enough light in this summer sky as stars floated in the crystal darkness. However, Jaken could not appreciate this beauty for his frustration of their journey getting delayed so they could wait for a human girl to wake.
Moments pass and her eyes flutter. Slowly her lashes open to a huge, green toad cooking fish. A huge green toad… Her thoughts ran wild with memories of the past, unable to take in the present. Where am I?
She slowly sat up, wisps of her long black hair falling on her shoulders. The whole encampment was filled with the rich aroma of the cooked fish. "T-Toad-san who are you?" she asked weakly. Her eyes were still droopy but she felt well.
Jaken was interrupted from his thoughtful complaints and fish-cooking jumped a bit from her sudden awaking. "Took you long enough to wake up! Human wench…" He mumbled more insults under his breath.
The fire roasted warmly as Rin felt heat in her arms and legs all over again. Her repetitive visits in the world of unconsciousness took a toll for half of her body was numb. Looking down at herself, she realized she was clothed with her torn yukata, though it was good enough that it could hold on to her fragile body and conceal certain body parts.
Looking at the toad and studying its features caused her eyes to widen in fascination. "Say… toad-san. Are you a youkai?" Her question rang with curiosity and excitement. Rin can't believe it. She heard so many stories of demons since she was 4 and always dreamt of meeting one. Now here she is 12 years later, sitting next to a toad demon!
"What of it?" Jaken scoffed. He crossed his tiny shoulders on his chest and turned away from her direction.
Rin jumped in joy and recklessly clutched Jaken next to her plump chest. "You really are a youkai! I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" She jumped on the ground while holding a dizzy Jaken.
What a hassle… we need to get rid of this overgrown brat.
Rin rubbed her cheek against Jaken squealing, "You're so cute too! What's your name toad-san?"
Now she's treating me like a toy…heh humans.
"I've always wanted to meet a youkai, demon-san! Even an ant demon would've sufficed!" Her face glowed with jubilance. Jaken never met or saw or heard of a human who would go out of her way to happily meat a demon… or an ant demon for that matter.
Jaken's green face flushed red with anger. "WHY YOU INSOLENT BRAT!" He kicked himself off of her grasp and landed on the ground.
Rin became even more excited as she yelled, "Oh my! You can jump far too!" She made another attempt to hug him. However, Jaken immediately ran to get away from her only to be stopped by a certain dog demon's voice.
"Jaken," Sesshoumaru called out with demand. He stood with an oilcloth in his hand, which Rin recognized as the bag that was filled with her belongings. But she didn't care notice it for she stood in awe at the magnificent, god-like being before her. His silver hair danced in the nightly breeze as the moon illuminated his body.
Immediately, Jaken stood straight, his eyes attentive and full of pride.
"SUGOI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (A/N: sugoi means wow/amazing)
Jaken twitched at the high-pitched scream while Sesshoumaru remained calm and impassive as ever.
"A real dog demon! Oh I've always heard about dog demons in legends too! I can't believe I could actually meet such noble creatures!!"
Before she jumped at Sesshoumaru, her attention quickly turned at a very white, furry boa resting on his right shoulder. Rin's eyes gleamed with euphoria. Two magnificent beings stood before her and now she can't help but be overjoyed.
After finally seeing her oilcloth bag, a rapid flood of memories rushed through her brain. Her face paled with the thoughts of the bandits. "You…" her voice and expression softened as she realized what had happened. "You must be the people who saved me! Aishou-sama did answer my prayers!"
Jaken gasped at her stupidity as Sesshoumaru's brow furrowed at the mention of Aishou.
Rin went on her knees and bowed to them as a sign of gratitude. "Thank you so much for helping me!" Her hair scattered in the ground as she lowered her head, blending in with the shadows of the night.
Her eyes on the soil, she didn't notice Sesshoumaru throwing the oilcloth at her until it thumped on the ground. She rose from her position to look inside, familiarized with her own belongings. Rin dug her hands inside, pulling out a dagger bearing the Heian Kyo gothic cross crest. Remembering her mission, she instantaneously changed her mood. "Forgive me for being so rude," she said solemnly with her head still lowered. "But I have to leave for Heian Kyo."
Suspicion swept both Jaken and Sesshoumaru at the mention of their similar destinations.
"Would it be alright…" Rin swallowed nervously, "if you take me there under your protection? … I know it seems very wrong of me to impose on both of you like that… But after… the bandits…" Dread filled her at the thought.
Sesshoumaru didn't give a reply, except he walked back to the path leading to Heian Kyo with a perplexed Jaken following.
Dumbfounded, Rin followed without question. It seemed it didn't bother him, though the toad was mumbling to himself.
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"It looks like we came here too early," Kagura stated as she stood on a hill overlooking Heian Kyo, where the cathedral they sacked stood.
Naraku gazed out into the moon without responding, heavy with thought. Grey streaks of clouds flooded the diamond-covered sky as sounds of summer crickets filled the air. Both figures, stood waiting.
"I wasted my sword on useless monks only to find that the wench has yet to come here," he grunted. Anger simmered in his blood, boiling in his red eyes. However his anger really was centered in a presence this afternoon. Though it was far away he was sure the whole world felt it. A feeling of fear and rage… "Tell me Kagura what you know about human legends."
Kagura was confused at his question. Her superior was acting strange, but she was sure it was a sign of a lost temper. "Only that they blindly worship a hanyou who hates their race."
Naraku scoffed at her answer. "But do you know how she died?"
She cocked an eyebrow at her question. "She didn't die…"
He turned to look at his ward. "Exactly…"
Wherever he was going with the story, she had no clue. Kagura heard of it many times in her lifetime and she surely does not need a lecture at this moment.
"Aishou's legend has been warped and tweaked to a point that it's so far-fetched and contradictory to why she's worshipped."
Kagura ignored his lessons and continued gazing out over Heian Kyo. The random and pointless history lesson was boring her.
"Aishou… is a false idol," Naraku whispered. He slowly pulled out a violet orb from his black robes, revealing its crystal tainted with darkness. "I'll destroy her and her legends."
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A/N: Thank you again for reviews and for reading my story. This was a quickie chapter to write hehe. Oh yeah for those who don't know Takemaru, watch the 3rd Inuyasha movie. Next chapter will be… when I feel like it again.
Getting confused with the legends? Well I made it to be like that on purpose. The real story will be revealed soon so don't worry.