Hello, faithfull peoples. Sorry it took so long, I had to study for finals, which I aced, thank you. I'm now saving up for a ball-jointed doll, but there's like, only one left in stock! I have to buy it ASAP lol. And I've been watching a lot of Naruto Shippuden, which is totally boss. But I didn't forget about you guys!
In this chapter, I added about...seven more characters. You know them well. Trust me. If you can't figure out what Shichinintai means by the names that follow it, let me help you; Band of Seven. If you don't like them, chill out, because they're only here for this chapter and the next. I have a plan now for what's going to happen, kind of. So keep checking for updates, though it's going to take me a while to create these next few. And please don't ask me how many chapters there are going to be, because I don't know yet haha. I just write without a plan and it usually works out.
Anyway....Read and Review! PLEASE REVIEW!!!
Sesshoumaru jumped into the air, his clothes plastering to his skin with the force. His hair shot back behind him, his bangs flying up, away from his head. His face was clear of everything except a very intense glare, his golden eyes smoldering. He held his sword out—pointed at InuYasha, of course. The blade was glowing, getting ready for some petty attack that would still be enough to take out the demon before him.
InuYasha caught the blade with his bare hand, little slits forming on his fingers as he took hold. He leaned forward, his face nearing Sesshoumaru's. Their faces were both illuminated by the glow of the Toukijin, their glares all the more severe. InuYasha's red eyes were more visible, sending chills through Sesshoumaru's spine. And that smile…his aura was almost as impure as Naraku's!
He thrust his arm to the side, flinging the boy to the side along with it. "Know your place, half demon!" he shouted, his anger showing.
He laughed again as she slammed into Sesshoumaru's mother's throne. He sat up, straight as if the throne was his. "Wow…" he said in a deep, husky voice. "I can see why the old man wanted power so much. These thrones are just so comfy…"
Sesshoumaru stabbed the throne, barely slicing InuYasha's knee. The sword impaled the seat, and Sesshoumaru could not pull it out. The electricity shot up from his blade, forcing him to let go. Damn. Now he'd be forced to use Tensaiga, the weakest of his father's swords. There was some unknown power that it possessed, but he didn't know how to unlock it. The Meidou Zengetsuha…..
The very sword he was thinking of pulsed at his hip, asking to be used. He nodded and drew the blade from its sheath, the sword still pulsing in his grasp. His face was mirrored on the slanted side of the blade, his own intense glare staring back at him.
InuYasha growled, lunging at the demon again. In response to Tensaiga being drawn, Tetsusaiga pulsed as well. InuYasha stopped dead in his tracks, the sword's beat matching with his hearts. His eyes went wide as it pulsed in his head, trying to undo the transformation. InuYasha half smiled—thank god. Tetsusaiga was there again to save him from himself.
No…. This is your last chance to kill Sesshoumaru! Don't mess it up by turning back into a hanyou!
InuYasha's eyes narrowed again. Yeah…this was it. Maybe he could kill Sesshoumaru and end this. But did he really deserve to die?
Of course he does! He may be your brother, but he's been ridiculing and attacking you and hating you since you were small! Why should he deserve to live? He's your enemy, InuYasha! Everyone is!
InuYasha grabbed Tetsusaiga. But…Sesshoumaru had helped them…many times now. Maybe he didn't hate him at all, and helping him was his way of showing it? Maybe he was to be trusted…
Trust is a weak, human trait. You see what happened when a demon tried to trust? This poor woman was left in the cold snow with a crying infant and a broken heart. Because she dared to trust another! Don't end up like that, InuYasha. For then I don't know if even I'll be able to save you…..
He clutched the hilt of his sword tighter. But he trusted Kagome. He didn't care what his demon side said or thought. Kagome did love him. She did not hate him. She trusted him, and cared for him. She would always be there for him; he just had to make sure he trusted her enough to keep her there.
Yanking Tetsusaiga from its sheath, he pointed it at Sesshoumaru.
No! What are you doing! I said you could kill him, but not with the Tetsusaiga! That wretched blade controls my blood!
"Exactly," he smiled.
Damn you InuYasha. You may have gotten free this time…but I'll be back. You can't get rid of the darkness inside you….
Finally, the demon's evil hold released him. InuYasha sighed with relief as his eyes regained their normal color, the gold surfacing through the red. Kagome smiled; glad to see that he was back to normal.
But it was too late. Sesshoumaru had evaded him, seeing that he had regained his senses. But his mother however…that was another story. She held the Meidou-Seki, the necklace that hung from her neck. It was a pitch black stone, black as night, enclosed in what appeared to be a circular shell. She placed her delicate hands on either side of it, thrusting it out to face InuYasha.
An enormous black light erupted from the stone, wrapping around him like a cloud. Streams poured out, and they began to assemble above him. After a moment, they began to take shape, and it looked like a dog. Though, it wasn't. It was completely black, and there were what appeared to be stars adorning the whole thing. Two blazing fire balls served as its eyes, glaring down at InuYasha with great intensity. It opened its fanged mouth in a growl, sneering at the boy below it.
"Watch your step, InuYasha," Sesshoumaru warned. "That demon is composed completely of hell's path. If you touch it you'll be sucked into the abyss of hell."
"It's called a hell hound," Sesshoumaru's mother snapped. Then she smiled maliciously, "but yes, he's right. You wouldn't want to fall in there. You see, there's just no exit."
Miroku glared at the hell hound. Suddenly, he saw a throng of souls pass through. Humans shrouded in white, with pale, sad faces, being led by the pall-bearers. One girl in particular caught his eye, her long brown hair flowing behind her.
Sango.
He grabbed the corpse from Kirara's back, slinging it over his back. He bolted for the hound, only to be stopped by Kagome's cry.
"Wait Miroku! What are you doing?!"
Miroku stopped, but only for a moment. "I'm going to get her back."
She felt tears come to her eyes. They didn't need to loose another friend! "But you'll die! You'll be stuck in there!"
He turned back to look at her over his shoulder. "I'd rather be stuck in hell with her for eternity than be without her here for a lifetime."
With that, he jumped into the hound's abyss. InuYasha watched his best friend jump in, a shocked expression on his face. Kagome ran up to him, sharing his expression.
"What a fool," the demon woman spat, lowering her hands.
Sesshoumaru took a step towards the hell hound. Without saying a word, he glided over to it, stepping into its portal as well. Everyone just blinked and stared after him, confused by his actions.
InuYasha looked at Kagome, asking her mentally what she wanted to do. She just nodded in response. He smiled down at her, then turned around, squatting so she could climb on. She did as such, squeezing his shoulder for support. He placed his free hand over hers, squeezing it back.
Sure, it was crazy. And yes, they may never come back. They'd be stuck in a living hell for eternity. But they would be together.
So, it wouldn't be so bad.
InuYasha lunged into the hound as well, forcing it to let out a deep, hollow howl.
"Has everyone gone insane?!" Sesshoumaru's mother exclaimed, calling the hell hound back into the Meidou-Seki. She stared into the jewel's blackness, truly contemplating her next action. She felt awful for letting her son get caught up with human affairs.
No doubt, Sesshoumaru had gone into the hound to find out more about his Meidou Zengetsuha. She began talking to herself, "Though he could have just asked me." She sat back in her throne, beckoning a servant over to her. He brought with him an enormous mirror, the one that was resting behind her throne. She pointed at it, a string of black spewing out of her finger. The black dripped onto the mirror, sending ripples of its color flowing out onto its surface. An image then appeared, the group that had just jumped in was now being viewed by the strange woman. "After all…" she smiled, leaning back to enjoy the show, "I am the master of hell herself."
Inside, the blackness was only illuminated by the stars and ghosts of the dead. Miroku pursued the group that Sango was in hastily, but it was just too fast for him. He grunted as they flew downwards, showing what looked like a very deep crater, composed of what seemed like black rock. He stood on the edge of it, following their light with his strained eyes closely. Without hesitation, he jumped off the edge, plummeting into the darkness after them.
"Miroku!" InuYasha shouted, glaring at the monk. "You idiot!" He began to jump off as well, but was stopped by Kagome's grip on his shoulder. He looked back at her quizzically. Why would she stop him? She just stared ahead, a horrified look on her face. InuYasha followed her stare but his view was blocked by the blackness. Another group of Shinigaami and the dead passed in front of him, showing what Kagome must have seen before. A huge crowd of demons gathered around the other side of the gorge, staring at InuYasha and Kagome. As soon as the ghouls passed, they disappeared into the darkness again.
"What should we do?" Kagome asked.
"It's going to be hard to fight them if we can't see them," InuYasha muttered softly, as not to disturb the demons. "We're going to have to be extremely careful not to get caught in an attack."
Kagome nodded, getting off his back in the process. She drew her arrows from her own back, placing them on her bow gently. "I can't aim though…"
InuYasha drew Tetsusaiga again, a glow showing for just a moment as he took the blade from the sheath. "Just shoot anywhere. You'll hit something, I'm sure."
Sesshoumaru's scent drifted to InuYasha's nose, causing him to turn his head to the left. The demon stood next to him, holding Tensaiga tightly. InuYasha smiled slightly; luckily it was hidden by the night-like darkness. Sesshoumaru was still helping them…even though he had just tried to kill him. Just like it always was.
"Here goes!" Kagome shouted as she drew her arrow back, the purple glowing from its tip. The glow lit up the area, flying from her bow to collide with a demon's head. As it disintegrated, the light died out as well, sending them back into darkness.
InuYasha glared at where the group was supposed to be, still smiling. By watching them when Kagome's light was on them, he could easily tell the position of the bigger, more threatening ones. He swung Tetsusaiga down, "Kaze no Kizu!" he screamed, the light pouring out of his sword's tip. It too shone brightly, showing more foes as it destroyed others. Once the gloom was fallen, it was Sesshoumaru's turn. He lifted his thin blade up, charging it with demonic power. He cried out as he swung it down, releasing the blue lightning from the sword. It shocked a few more demons to death, but a few others caught what was going on.
They saw the group. Now it was a battle.
One demon screamed a deep roar, sending all the demon's attention to the group. They all placed their arms and blades up, getting ready to attack. The dusk settled again, the signal to begin the blind battle.
"Be on guard," InuYasha commanded.
Sesshoumaru stepped in front of him and Kagome. "Stand back," he ordered. The two obliged, curious at his command. "Farther," he spat, thrusting his blade into the ground. He held his hand in front of his face, his index finger glowing white. A few demons came at him, growling, therefore giving away their position. He narrowed his eyes and began to gracefully spin in a circle, his whip extending from his finger. The string of light slapped the demons, slicing their heads clean off, blood spraying everywhere. Finally, he stopped spinning, the light dimming in the process.
Unfortunately, one of the demons was smarter than that. He had snuck up, around to the Tensaiga, while Sesshoumaru was carrying out his attack. Sesshoumaru went to grab it, only to be rudely surprised, seeing as it was no longer there. "Damn," he cursed, scanning the darkness for the thief.
"Kongou Souha!" InuYasha shouted, the diamonds spraying from his blade. The luminosity stayed on the spears, even after they impaled the demons. Now, they had a small light source, seeing as the spears were implanted in the dead enemies. InuYasha smiled at his own cunning, making the fight easier.
Just then, a deep chuckle erupted from the mass of demons. The voice sounded extremely familiar. After that, six more laughs followed after it, echoing in the almost silent hell. The only other noise was screams.
"Shichinintai," InuYasha growled, staring ahead.
Kagome glared as well, grabbing back to snatch another arrow.
But she was out.
Her face went pale as her eyes widened. Not now! This was the last thing they needed!
Sesshoumaru continued to scan for his sword, not like he needed it. These weak mortals were no problem when they were reincarnated the first time, and now that they were dead for a second time, they really shouldn't have been a problem.
Bankotsu stepped out, heaving his Banryu over his shoulder with a smile. Jakotsu stepped out after him, squealing when he saw InuYasha.
"Oh!" he gasped erotically. "InuYasha! I thought I would never see you again! After I died, I knew you wouldn't be going to hell like me! You're just too cute for even Buddha to resist! But I guess I was wrong! Oh, I see, you must have been a naughty boy up there. Why didn't you ever do naughty things to me, huh InuYasha?"
InuYasha sweat dropped, his face turning ill. Why? Why him? Why now?
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at this. He had never felt…what did they call it? Ah, yes, humor. He had never felt humor, the urge to smile, before this. He restrained himself, however, because if he smiled, he would never live it down.
"Shut up, Jakotsu," Renkotsu demanded, coming out after them. He crossed his arms, holding his gourd in one hand, wires in the other. He smiled at InuYasha, "Oh, it's you. Where's that cursed wolf demon, your alliance, Kouga? Genkotsu and I have a bone to pick with him."
Bankotsu chuckled, "Now now Renkotsu. I know you want to kill all of these bastards, but we have to take it slow. Let's enjoy killing the ones who damned us to the grave a second time."
Kagome felt chills run down her spine as she hid behind InuYasha.
"Gesh," Genkotsu spat, his gears turning as he rolled up next to Renkotsu. He smiled, his metal mouth gleaming in the small light cast by the diamonds.
Just then, a very malicious laugh rang out. Suikotsu sliced the demon in front of him clean open, blood spraying all over his evil face. "Sesshoumaru," he said softly, licking the blood from his blades. "Long time no see. How's that little girl?"
Sesshoumaru gave him a small glare. He had almost killed Rin…. Sesshoumaru wondered if you could even kill someone in hell. Who cared, he was going to try.
Behind Kagome, a stout little man blew on her neck. She shivered and shrieked, jumping onto a very surprised InuYasha's back. Mukotsu glared up at her, drooling. "Kagome, my darling. We never finished out wedding. Let's get to it, shall we?"
InuYasha grunted and kicked the little man backwards, angered from just remembering it. Thanks to Sesshoumaru, she had been saved. Yet another time he had helped them….
Kilkotsu was the last one to step forward, towering over all of them.
"Enough joking around," Bankotsu demanded. The others assimilated with his battle position and aura, a new seriousness entering the field. The remaining demons all stared at them, smiles spreading across their faces. Their eyes grew hungry with the hope for blood.
A meal for the dead; delicious.
InuYasha thrust Tetsusaiga, re-positioning it in his grasp. "Well fight us then. We killed you once, we'll do it again!"
Sesshoumaru glared. But it wouldn't be that simple. Considering they were already dead, their attacks wouldn't have any affect on them. They needed the monk and his spiritual powers. They could have used the girl, but her arrows were out and her spiritual power could only be awakened in the direst situations.
They had to hold out until one of two things happened; one being that the monk would come back with the demon slayer. The second being if the battle became so serious that Kagome's true spiritual power would be awakened and they would be saved. But if they waited that long….
He glanced over at InuYasha.
He might not be able to control his inner anger long enough not to kill them as well.
