Author Note: As promised, after three reviews here's the next chapter. Although i actually got four, so thank-you!
just-let-me-go
Inuyasha1818: well you'll see who's gonna get hurt.
JammyDodger217 : Here's the slicing and dicing, and don't worry I will update The hunt for hakudoshi this week, whilst I'm on a week off from work, just this one's been nagging me for a while and can't seem to get it off my mind without typing it up.
Alternative Angel: Thanks for your review, well there are going to be a few ticked off demons, and you've got an idea of who's gonna be ticked off - but not in the ways that you may think - Keep guessing lol.
Last of the Wilds
Chapter two: A Tragedy at the Annual Hunts.
The two ningens, one clad in the Navy and Black silks of the South-west, the other in the blood and burnt reds of the East continued to run, the sound of a nearby creek flowing to their ears.
"the creek, that's the creek we have to cross! Quickly, we've done it" The Eastern man shouted to the other, younger than he. They both ran a little further despite the deep burning in their muscles screaming to stop.
From the canopy above Lord Merida watched the prey, they were rushing towards the creek, no-one ever reached the creek. He ran swiftly through the trees, making barely any sound at all, he watched and waited patiently as they neared the creek of salvation, he always loved the look upon his victims faces as he dropped down before them stopping them from reaching the creek at the last moment, before he ripped them apart. They nearer closer and closer, then Merida made his appearance.
The Youkai dropped down infront of the two frightened humans, leaves fell around his being as his dual red Haori and Hakama floated down around him. The leaves embroidered into his Hakama pants billowing on an unseen breeze. His brown undershirt was the same burnt sienna colour as his shoulder length hair and eyes.
"Now, now...where do you think you humans are going? You..." Merida pointed to his prey as he stepped closer "you're coming with me" Merida darted for his target, his blunt fingernails catching against his targets' skin. The young lad, in his panic not knowing the Eastern mountain Goat Youkai usually allowed his prey to leave after he only wounded them, unsheathed his Taijia poisoned blade, slashing at Merida haphazardly. The two humans stood still, shocked at what they just did. Merida standing there his eyes wide in awe, his mouth agape, like a fish out of water, his only coherent thought.
A ningen ... actually attempted to harm the Son of the Eastern Tai-Youkai.
Kagome broke through the bushes behind Merida, skidding softly to a stop she chuckled at the scene before her. Two human males, dressed in the colours of their holdings were scared shitless at the young Lord before them.
"Oh, I cannot wait to see the look on Sesshoumaru's face when you and I are this years winners. C'mon Merida...say something!" Kagome approached Merida slowly, the smile upon her face slowly contorting to confusion. As she drew closer, Merida turned his head towards her. Her eyes flew open in shock and horror; Merida's throat was savaged, the windpipe severed, blood pouring all over his Haori. The sickening sounds of strangled breathing, of blood gurgling across his lungs made Kagome dash to him, her hands to his throat in attempt to seal the wound.
Merida's eyes connected with hers for the last time as he crumpled to the forest floor taking Kagome with him. The final rushes of air escaping from his bloodied lungs, rushed through his severed windpipe. Kagome cradled him to her body calling his name in vein. But his eyes had lost all light, he had gone. Kagome held on to his cold bloodied form a little longer, swaying to and fro in efforts to revive him. Tears flowed from her ocean eyes, she lifted her head to the skies as she screamed a blood chilling howl, birds and woodland creatures fled the area, and the two humans continued to stand still, watching in shocked surprise that they had slain a Lord.
Kagome dropped her ruby red gaze to the humans, snarling. She placed Merida's head down gently onto the ground and stood to her full height, flexing her bloodied claws. She locked eyes with the Eastern Ningen with the bloodied Katana and lunged at him, in a blood fuelled fury. In the heat of her anger she ripped his throat out, relishing the feel of his warm blood running all over her hands, when the boys body fell to the ground, she looked at her own target dressed in her own holding's colours. The boy lifted his weapon to her, slashing and parrying until she too ripped his head clean off with her sharp claws. Ripping a shred of silken cloth from each of the males that now lay in bloodied heaps on the leafy ground, she slowly wandered back to Merida's form. Kagome tucked both scraps into her belt, as she slowly hauled Merida up onto her back, gripping his lifeless legs to stop him from falling off of her, as she began her painstaking walk back to her father's castle.
--
The four cardinal Lords continued to sit upon their palace pillows under the cool shade of the Sakura tree. Camp-fires were slowly being set up all around the holding, giving it an ethereal glow. Warm sake was being poured for each of the Lords and the first to emerge from the forest below,
It was no surprise that Sesshoumaru was the first to emerge within an hour of the hunt beginning, he was extremely annoyed for some reason, a bloodied white scrap of silk clutched within his clawed fingers. Those same fingers now furled around a small sake cup, watching the forest below awaiting the next to pass through. He had passed hours ago, and it was unusual for Kaya not to follow shortly afterwards.
Within minutes of the first camp-fires to be lit, Kouga wandered through the forest, a severely beaten Ningen within his grasp. He pulled the Ningen up the grassy hillside, then threw him rather forcefully on the ground at his father's feet, a grin upon his cocky face. Zanziheva stood from his place, to acknowledge his son and congratulate him as was customary.
"My son, you are the second to return from the annual summer hunts, congratulations" Zanziheva slapped his son's back in praise. Kouga stood there dumbfounded. "second, usually that's Kay-I mean Kagome's place. I cannot believe that I actually beat her and Merida!" Kouga bristled as he accepted the cup of warm sake from the servant, as he grinned sheepishly at Sesshoumaru.
"Indeed. No doubt you cheated wolf" Sesshoumaru retorted. 'at least he's learnt his lesson not to call Kagome by the name she only permitted myself to use. Though I am beginning to grow concerned, it is not like her to take so much time. C'mon Kaya what are you doing out there?'
--
Leaves crunched under foot, the feel of slick old blood oxidising and crunching over her own skin, was making Kagome feel totally and utterly sick. Old blood had dried down her neck as well as her chest and back, every step had made fresh tears fall from her eyes. She was getting unbelievably tired, the blood pumping through her body was beginning to feel heavy, like lead. She could feel her heart pound slower than normal. Her vision was clouding earlier, but now was tunnelling at an alarming rate, she had walked around blindly for about half an hour before it came back.
There was a deep burning sensation radiating from her left abdomen, with every step the burning sensation intensified, it felt as though someone had thrown a hot searing katana within her, and was slowly dragging it out. Then pushing it sharply back in again. Beats of cold sweat ran down her back and chest as she continued to press on, the sounds of the annual celebrations was the only thing keeping her moving, the louder they got, the closer to home she felt, it was the only tangible thing keeping her moving. Her legs were dragging against the ground, barely able to lift them any higher, she had stumbled many times, and each time it was getting harder to stand up again.
'Father i'm so sorry...I just want to see his face, just once before I black out, just his face...please' Kagome continued to chant in her head as she stumbled once again, she flopped to her hands and knees, the weight of Merida upon her back making her want to lay down and not get up again.
--
A rustling was heard below, The four cardinal Lords assembled at the top of the hillside, as did Sesshoumaru and Kouga. Sesshoumaru stood there with an eyebrow raised, and an questioning look upon his face, Kouga stood with a cocky grin, ready to gloat about how he beat whoever it was going to emerge next, hoping it was going to be Kagome. The Lords were silent wondering whether it would be the hunter of the East or the huntress of the South-west.
Slowly filtering through the inky shadows a form emerged, dressed as dark as night itself, a heap of sunset red upon its back, all the Lords above recognised both Kagome and Merida together. Slowly Kaya glanced up at the hillside, her foggy vision struggling to find the one she desperately wanted to see, as her breathing strained in her chest. Her clouded oceanic eyes roamed all the faces til it settled on that one she wanted. His Amber eyes wide in shock and fear, It looked alien on Sesshoumaru, she had held out just to see the face of the one she loved. Her vision faded to nothingness, as she fell forward, her body numb, feeling totally paralysed from the waist down. The sounds of the background faded into nothing, as she hit the ground with a soft thud, the weight of Merida pushing her further into the grass.
"Kagome!" Taro yelled dashing down to his daughter, as she slowly began to fall.
"Merida!" Andrei followed
The other Lords all rushed to the fallen pair, Andrei pulled his son off Kagome, pulling him back to see his face, Andrei yelled in surprise at the sight of his eldest son's throat ripped to shreds, his eyes wide and lifeless, staring back at him with fright and sadness. His once red Haori stained brown with old dried blood.
"No, Merida. My son! No, NO!" Andrei yelled cradling the dead body of his eldest Son. Tears fell freely from his eyes as Zanziheva placed an understanding hand upon his shoulder, as he too looked at the dead boy in his father's arms. 'A father should never have to bury his pups' with that thought he looked over the other fallen pup, her breathing was strained, her chest barely rising, barely taking in any of the air around her.
Inu Tashio held Sesshoumaru back, his son thrashing against him trying to get to Kagome. Inu Tashio looked at her over his shoulder worriedly, as her father lifted her off the ground, into his arms. She was limp, sweat pouring from her, Merida's and her own blood intermingled all over her clothes, Merida's all over her chest and back, her own from her waist, where a deep long stab wound was upon her left abdomen.
"I don't believe it. He actually killed one, possibly two!" The only surviving Ningen whispered in awe, however, in the company of five raging Daiyoukai it was heard loud and clear as though it was said to the world. Kouga marched up to the lad, grabbing his hair roughly dragging him to his feet. Zanziheva left Andrei's side approaching the Ningen. Kouga threw said Ningen at his father's feet, kicking him roughly in the ribs.
"Speak Maggot, what do you mean?" Kouga hissed.
"Acer, the guy that she was chasing, said that his village was approached by a group of Taijia. That they had been sent from somewhere in the South-eastern province with a deadly poison. One that could kill any Youkai. I can't believe that he actually did it, one's dead and she will die before morning"
Inu Tashio could hold his raging son back no longer, Sesshoumaru grabbed the Ningen male roughly by his Haori, bringing him to his face. His deadly claws growing a green colour as the poison snaked their way through them.
"How dare you filthy vermin, conspire to harm one of us" Sesshoumaru seethed, his eyes were but mere slits of ruby blood rage, barely holding any of his restraint. He wanted to kill this human more than the one he dispatched from disturbing his moment with Kagome, and dishonouring him.
"Sesshoumaru, wait" Zanziheva interrupted. The son of the West halted respectfully, although was struggling with control.
"she needs an antidote...tell me now human where is it?" The wise old Ookami questioned, as his withered eyes glided to the palace doors, as Taro entered his daughter still within his arms, Tashio following after him.
"He never left one, he just appeared from the lands of the South-east, he gave the head monk of the village the vile of poison and said; 'Pour this upon the blade of your weapon, this is Youkai extermination poison. It is odourless, so you need not fear if you are caught in possession with it. I have met no Youkai that has taken this and survived. Even a small knick will be enough. For when this poison enters the blood stream that Youkai in question will slowly become paralysed, their heart will slowly stop, as they near the point of death the convulsions begin. After the convulsions they are met with the merciful arms of death. But to get to mercy, they sustain much agony' that's all I swear!" The lone human recited
"very well, pup you may dispose of him" Zanziheva nodded at Sesshoumaru, who grasped the quivering man by the throat.
"You will suffer like my Kaya is suffering you filthy vermin, you can experience another Youkai poison running through your veins. This one, deadly to ningen's" Sesshoumaru growled, thrusting his poisoned claws into the shoulder of the human in his grasp. The human males' eyes rolled up into his head as he howled and writhed in sheer agony. It took the human only five short minutes, the feeling of his insides liquefying, of his internal organs melting into nothing but a green bloody goo that he died.
The Cardinal Lord Zanziheva helped Andrei lift his son, with the assistance of his own as they took the lifeless body of Merida inside. Sesshoumaru looked over the human one last time, reigning in his control, before he too disappeared to follow Taro, his Sire and Kagome. Zanziheva continued to walk in a silence, deep in thought. The South-eastern Lord Kiros had made a move upon the Lords of the lands, and slaying one of the children. His intention would be start an all out war against the Southern Kingdom. No doubt the poison was only meant for Kagome, but tragically Merida had died, and now she too was poisoned. The idea of Kiros having such a poison was unnerving, let alone actually using it.
--
Taro placed his only daughter on her futon within her chambers. He stood looking contemplatively upon her, Sesshoumaru entered the chambers a sincere worried look upon his face. It was no secret that he and Kagome were closer than friends, but the solemn look that one was losing their mate made Tashio want to draw him close and assure him she would be fine – however he could not.
Her breathing had become more and more strained, her chest on occasion not rising at all, only the sound of the death rattle in the back of her throat. Bloody tears fell from he eyes, down her porcelain cheeks as she slowly attempted to pant. She was in agony. Taro placed a cloth of warm water upon her brow, a deep guttural purr resounding from his chest attempting to calm her.
Kagome drew in a deep breath, her eyes shooting open, as her right hand clutched at her heart, she screamed as she could feel her heart stopping, the blood struggling to pump throughout her body, the fear she felt washed over all in the room in waves.
"Kagome, Kagome listen to me" Tashio attempted, but she screamed again, throwing herself back onto the futon, writhing and thrashing in sheer agony. Sesshoumaru and Taro grabbed her, trying to hold her still, but she wouldn't stop. Kouga stood in the doorway watching the three Inu Lords, holding down a dying and thrashing female, he stood rooted to the spot, watching in fear and anger that Kagome was put through so much.
"Kagome! Kagome! Stop it, stop it! Kagome!" Taro growled, looking at Tashio who was just as confused as he was. Then the air in her lungs rushed out of her small body, and she fell limp and lifeless upon her futon, her eyes sliding to a close. The three Inu Youkai looked at the female they were holding onto, Kouga had run away unable to hear the words from any of them, that she was dead.
Taro's hand made it to his mouth, where he hid behind it, unable to speak. Only shaking his head in a whispered un-acceptance. Sesshoumaru cupped a hand on her cheek, his father's hand upon her chest feeling for her heartbeat – one he could not find.
--
Uh-oh, dilemma!!
Je ne
Callie-Yue
