The guard led Kagome through a set of wooden double doors, which appeared to belong to just another house –though this one was larger than average- and closed them gently behind her.
Kagome peeked around them and noticed that the place didn't look much different than any other house in the Feudal Era. Some of the vases and decorations appeared to be more expensive, perhaps that was the difference between the lord and his people?
…Or maybe he just wasn't a very wealthy lord.
The soldier, who had originally called on her, gestured for her to follow him and they spent the trip in silence, with Kagome occasionally commenting on this or that.
He would simply nod in acceptance of her brief complimenting of the house's décor.
Kagome looked around again and wondered if she'd ever find some of these things in a museum in her era, or if they would all be broken before she'd gotten that chance.
After about five minutes of walking and admiring the soldier stopped in front of a shoji door and gestured for the guards to stand down. Kagome watched in awe as at least 20 guards nodded and allowed her to move past them.
She hesitated, clearing her throat. "I mean no disrespect, but why are there so many guards? And the lock down…"
"A warning note was sent to our lord. The perpetrator threatens the castle and everyone in it… including our lord." He replied back stiffly before nodding her toward the room.
"AH! So you came!" The lord crowed excitedly when they came in. He was dressed in samurai clothing and appeared to be quite stern… yet now he was careless despite the fact that a note had been sent warning him of his own death.
"I am the lord of this castle. Lord Kuya. This is my general, Teruaki." He replied, his earlier delight lessening a bit as he beckoned to the masked soldier she'd seen before.
"And this is my adviser, Youta." He waved his hand carelessly at the man who had been frantically strategizing earlier and looked like he was about to begin again.
"And you are?" He asked, eyeing her.
She bowed in response. "Kagome. It's an honor to meet your acquaintance, my lord."
He laughed heartily, "The pleasure is all mine! What a polite young lady!"
Kagome looked around the room and couldn't help the way her eyes widened.
Behind him there were two pedestals, one held a gigantic halberd that had to be just as tall and wide as her, if not twice that size. A soft dark purple cloth covered its blade and seemed to be working as a sheath.
Beside it, on the other pedestal sat a longbow… or maybe NOT a longbow.
Aside from the grip it didn't seem to have much in common with a bow. It was just as tall as she was and the grip was clearly made out of crystal, five circles were engraved into it and laced with what she could only believe to be obsidian. The upper and lower limbs of the bow were swords made from steel and were so taken care of that she had no doubt that a leaf could fall on the side and be shredded. The swords were clearly not meant for stabbing –though she was sure they would do that very well- as they had small hooks on the ends which supplied a thin steel cable that would act as a bow string.
Overall it was deadly and beautiful and she could have stared at it for the rest of the day.
Kuya cleared his throat, "That's Banryu and Mizuki our clan's greatest treasures."
Kagome froze, not liking the way he said treasures. People often did terrible things to acquire they're 'treasures'. "…How did you get your hands on such priceless weapons?" She finally asked, turning back to eye the two weapons thoughtfully.
"Banryu belonged to Bankotsu, the leader of the Band of Seven. We claimed it after we defeated him in battle." The lord boasted. "Furthermore, Mizuki belonged to Kagome of the Walking Shadows! Whom, we also defeated." His chin was held high and he was obviously very proud of himself.
However, Kagome found herself freezing. 'Bankotsu' was a member of the Band of Seven! She had to get back to Inuyasha and tell him that this was the castle that had defeated him!
Maybe they could get some pointers.
'Wait a minute…' Kagome glanced down at the kimono she was wearing. It couldn't be a coincidence that she'd bought a kimono belonging to a girl named 'Kagome' who had been killed by the lord's soldiers and now she was hearing about another 'Kagome' that was some kind of mercenary leader. Her name wasn't that common.
Her brow furrowed, that was something else she had to tell the group. Another famous band of undead mercenaries around wasn't a surprise that they'd appreciate much.
"…Banryu looks heavy." Kagome finally muttered, unsure of how one person could lift it.
"It took three strong men to carry Banryu here."
"Bankotsu must have been pretty slow lugging that thing around." Kagome said, not liking that the leader had to have demon like strength to lift something like that and carry it around. Even if he did use both hands.
Kuya shrugged, "He was actually quite fast."
Kagome raised a brow disbelievingly, "…Carrying that?"
"He made it appear as easy as lifting a feather."
She stiffened and looked back at the halberd. "With one hand?" She wouldn't have even thought that possible!
"Indeed."
She approached the bow-sword cautiously, her hand trembling slightly as she raised it to touch the hilt of the weapon. Her hand touched the third circle briefly and she noticed it felt slightly loose.
"And Mizuki?"
"It took five strong men to carry that weapon here." The lord was there immediately, snatching her hand away, his voice trembled, "Twenty… if you count those that died." His eyes darkened, "If someone touched it they fell dead."
Kagome gulped, her eyes remaining on the sparkling crystal. "There's a spirit resting in it."
"A spirit?" His eyes wide and his voice breathless.
She nodded, "I'm a miko." Their eyes met, "Mizuki chooses who wields it… I'd imagine that Banryu is the same." Her hand reached out and grasped the hilt again, this time fully.
It pulsed, small and silent, but Kagome noticed it.
"Kagome." A beautiful voice breathed out, hope and disbelief clear in her tone. Kagome jerked back in surprise, her hand leaving its hilt.
"Kagome loved that bow." Youta spoke suddenly, "It took everything we had to pry it from her fingers." His voice turned shaky, "If Bankotsu has returned he will not leave us in peace. He will kill us all."
"He has not returned." Lord Kuya snapped.
"He has." Kagome interrupted the glaring to add in her two cents. "The Band of Seven were all resurrected, although I haven't run into Bankotsu yet. But now it makes sense." She added quickly, seeing Kuya about to cut in. "He's probably been shut up somewhere plotting his revenge. This is a serious situation Lord Kuya."
A teenage boy walked up to the castle gate. "Hey, I'm here to take back my companion." He replied smoothly, his blue eyes were daring and he appeared almost bored.
The guards glanced amongst themselves for a moment before their eyes shot back to him. "It's… IT'S HIM!"
"TAKE HIM!"
"Rest easy." Lord Kuya replied, exasperated, "The halberd Banryu is testament that we destroyed Bankotsu, leader of the Band of Seven. If he were to return, we would merely kill him again."
Kagome huffed and shook her head, 'Men.' "Oh yeah? Well what did it take you the last time?" She shot him an angry glance, "And do you have all those resources now?"
He was cut off from an angry retort when a loud explosion shook the building, Kagome eyes widened and she hissed, "Well do you?"
"What was that?!"
"Where did he go?!"
The rest of the band appeared then, hidden by smoke, just as their leader whom slipped passed the guards and into the castle.
"Milord! They're coming!" Youta cried as explosions made the room tremble.
"Lord Kuya, it is not wise to underestimate them!" Kagome assured, her voice becoming panicked, "We can't let him get his weapon back!" Something told her that only tragedy would await them should that happen.
"Just stay calm, they'll never make it this far." The lord stated confidently, 'Idiot.' Kagome inwardly cursed, rushing forward she grabbed Banryu's hilt and hefted; surprise when it lifted from its place effortlessly.
Youta sputtered and she herself stared at it with huge eyes, "H-How?"
The door suddenly slid open to reveal a handsome teenage boy.
"Oh there you are. Did you get my letter?" Bankotsu asked, his eyes only for Lord Kuya. His voice was slow, indolent; like he was drawing out the moment so it would last longer.
"It's… It's you!" Youta stuttered.
Kagome was confused by all this, for she was still slightly disoriented because of the whole picking-up-halberd-with-one-hand thing.
"But what about my guards?" The lord asked, his voice trembling and his eyes widening and contracting in a show of fear.
"Ohhhhhhh, your guards. I think they're a little hung up right now."
Looking passed him; they could see all the guards were hanging from the ceiling –with their heads shoved through- like limp rag dolls.
'He's powerful.' Kagome pondered idly, looking for an escape route, but there had been only one entrance to the room and Bankotsu himself was blocking it.
"How did…" Kuya started only to be distracted when Bankotsu cracked his knuckles threateningly, "Wait!" The war-lord's eyes were wide with fright and he took a step back. "Just listen. You've come here to reclaim the great halberd, have you not?" He asked, stepping aside for Bankotsu to get a clear view of his weapon.
Kagome inwardly cursed him for his stupidity as Bankotsu's eyes landed on her form, slightly widening, but overjoyed none the less. "Hey it's my Banryu!"
"It's yours! Take it!" The War-lord urged and he turned slightly to see her, "Give it to him!"
Kagome's face clearly showed her disbelief, "You've got to be kidding!" She practically yelled, not caring that it was a death sentence to do so. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Bankotsu took a step forward, his stance both curious and threatening. "You're pretty strong, you know. If you can lift my Banryu." 'I'm supposed to be the only one who can pick her up. Banryu made it seem like that's how she wanted it.'
But just because he was curious, didn't mean that he was going to let her have his weapon.
Kagome, although having no training in swordsmanship, pointed the weapon at him menacingly. "Stay back." She hissed, her voice holding a confidence that she did not actually feel.
Staring at the smug mercenary leader, she began to get over her shock and anger replaced it. His eyes –combat blue, she now noticed- were shining with curiosity and more than a little amusement.
He thought her action were funny.
How infuriating!
His hand reached out and grasped the purple cloth –its sheath, she deftly reminded herself-, it slipped off in a flourish of fabric. "Hey, it looks so shiny!" Bankotsu exclaimed, clearly enjoying himself and admiring the blade despite its close proximity to his face. "You polished it huh?" His inspection lead to him putting his face even closer to the sharp metal and Kagome was shocked. She'd never met someone who so clearly was waiting for her to kill them.
He was giving her every opportunity to lop off his head and kill him for good; yet for some reason… she couldn't do it.
Blue eyes met blue and they stared at each other, a smirk suddenly traveling across Bankotsu's face.
'I don't like that look.'
It was similar to how one looked at a very valuable item before stole it off the auction.
"Um… yes. Look, I don't care if you are a Spector! Will you serve me?" Kuya's voice was strong yet desperate.
"But my lord…!" Youta gasped, his face conveying both his shock and worry.
"Be my new general and together we shall conquer this land!"
"You're insane." She snarled and her eyes darkened to a bluish grey storm. "Delusional!"
"Shut up!" The warlord hissed back, "Serve me Bankotsu!"
Bankotsu looked at the lord with a frown marring his face, "Hey, come on now. Are you sure you read my letter?" He asked with a look of mild irritation.
"What letter?" It was obvious from his squeaky, nervous voice that Kuya knew exactly 'what letter' Bankotsu was talking about.
"No bounds."
"No… bounds?"
"Our vengeance will know no bounds… or something to that effect." Bankotsu clarified lazily and his confident smirk reappeared.
"Gah…"
"Now, woman." Bankotsu started and is head turned back to her and he remained unbothered by the blade at his neck, "As entertaining as this is… give me my Ban-" He stopped suddenly, his face paling as he got a glimpse of something over her shoulder. "…"
Kagome gulped and her hand started shaking, 'What is it? What happened?'
"… Mizuki." Bankotsu's face took on an unreadable expression and he shoulders shook in a silent rage, "Where… the hell… did you get Mizuki." His eyes flashed and unadulterated rage showed brightly in his eerily glowing eyes.
Ka-Kag-Kagome of-f-f-f t-the W-Wal-Walking Sh-Shadows." Kuya sputtered, his feet moving backwards as his mind panicked. "We de-def-defeated h-her i-in-n-n-n ba-ba-ba-a-at-battle!" His back hit the wall and he slipped to the ground.
Bankotsu was clearly done with games and before she could blink, Banryu was swept from her hand and he'd turned the halberd on the lord. "One… Thousand." He hissed and his razor sharp blade soared through the air.
A deep horror hit Kagome as blood sprayed and she quickly closed her eyes. He'd taken off the lord's head with no remorse, no sense of pity… just hatred. Anger. Satisfaction.
Youta's cry was short and abruptly cut off as she heard the sickening sound of ripping flesh once more and a warm liquid hit her face, causing her to stiffen.
…and she knew Youta had met the same fate as his lord. As she was about to.
'You never give the enemy his weapon.'
Her eyes opened and through her tears she could make out Bankotsu's silhouette, he was heading toward her, his blade was angled in the same way it had been when he killed Kuya.
And as abruptly as they opened, her eyes closed and she fainted.
"Where are we going?" Akako's question was dull and bored and I was quiet.
But that only lasted for a moment.
"It doesn't matter, we… we are free." Under normal circumstances, this would have brought me joy, but we had lost so much in return for our freedom.
Our siblings were gone.
…And they would never come back.
Akira stayed silent despite the long journey, refusing to complain of her aching feet as Akako did. Somehow, I doubted she could feel them at all. My sister had gone numb and her mind remained in the castle with our siblings. Her hopes and dreams lying with their cold bodies.
My heart ached to comfort her, to reassure her; but I could not lie to her.
Where she was numb, I felt only anger. Anger at Naraku, them, but mostly myself.
I couldn't protect them.
Hours passed and we continued on, through villages and planes we walked in our quiet, depressed states.
Finally, it was Akako who dared break us. "They are gone… shimai…" Her voice was small and sad; speaking through as the truth.
And just like that, we shattered.
I fell to my knees my sisters came to me, as they always had. I hugged them and offered them comfort, not assurances and forced myself not to grieve.
I couldn't grieve in front of them, I had to be strong. I had to be the strongest.
Hatred overwhelmed me and I continued to stroke their hair and whisper to them, even as I plotted.
I would kill him.
I would DESTROY him.
I would torture him, I would make him feel this pain.
He would know my sorrow.
He would scream out his loss like I could not.
My mind screamed to go back and take revenge and I began to shake despite myself.
"Imouto." Akira's voice spoke up for the first time since we'd left the castle, "You cannot."
She knew of my plans.
We stared at each other, silently arguing, until a light shone for me.
She was still there.
Almost in amazement, my hand reached for her cheek while my other arm tightened around Akako, realization coursing through my veins.
"I know."
I could not risk losing my sisters.
…Even if it was to fight against Naraku.
"Hey there… are you okay?"
My eyes snapped to attention and I took him in.
He was a teenager –just barely- with tanned skin and beautiful blue eyes. A purple pointed cross was donned on his forehead and his hair was black, tied in a long braid that reached the middle of his back.
He was… beautiful.
Like a girl.
Kagome groaned as she woke up, her hand instinctively reaching for her head. "Stupid headache." She muttered, mildly annoyed even as she considered her dream. 'That girl has a lot of hatred, but she also has a lot of love.' Not to mention that Naraku was mentioned.
"These can't just be dreams." Kagome whispered, unaware of the boy listening intently behind her.
The dreams were too vivid to be just dreams, but it wasn't like Kagome had ESP or something. So what were they?
Her eyes widened, "A memory." She quickly shook off the idea and huffed to herself. 'I'm from the future. I don't have memories from the Feudal Era.' And yet there was a lingering suspicion.
She had lost the first nine years of her life to amnesia. Who knew what she had encountered before she'd had the accident.
"Nine years." She mumbled sadly, wishing she had those memories.
"If you keep muttering to yourself, I might just decide you're a witch." A familiar voice cut in lazily, "Burning you alive sounds… entertaining."
Kagome's skin turned pale and she turned to stare at the intruder, whispering, "Bankotsu." Now she remembered what had happened –no longer being distracted by the dream- and was more confused than afraid. "Why am I alive?"
Bankotsu smirked easily, his hand reaching out and grabbing her arm, "Someone has to pour us drinks."
i luv niki4444
THERE! It's finally revised. x"D
What a relief! :P
-Niki
