AUTHOR's NOTE: Sorry for the delay! I was so busy with school works and stuffs, and still! ARRGHHH! By the way, REVIEW or the next chapter will be incredibly delayed once again. Haha.

CHAPTER 6: Hope

He was standing in the middle of a narrow and raised pavement across a shallow but vast clear lake; eyes closed, face towards the unclear night sky.

In contrast to the atmosphere above the taijiya village, the Western Lands mirrored the dark side of heavens.

It would rain. He was certain. The clouds would soon give in and release their burdens within. Just like that, they would be relieved. Inside, he envied them. Never had he felt so burdened before. It was foreign. He couldn't get himself to understand. Why? How? And, since when did he let things bother him so much?

You are in pain.

His eyebrow twitched, remembering the words of the impudent miko. How dare she? Who was she anyway? Accusing him of having human feelings she was clearly suffering from? He was a youkai, a daiyoukai. He would never feel such demeaning emotion.

Sesshomaru, you don't need to hide.

A drop of water landed on his pale cheek, lone and cold. He let it. He let the rest that followed until he was entirely wet, until the waters were dripping from the tip of his locks and from the edge of his silken sleeves, '…such demeaning emotion,' he thought. 'And, yet…'

"Sesshomaru."

He opened his eyes.

"You were lost. You didn't even feel me…" Ryuunosuke joined the dog demon after some time at the covered wide engawa somewhere in the Western castle.

Sesshomaru was wearing a new set of plain and silken warm haori over his hakama. His armor was no longer in sight, though his mokomoko remained on his shoulder. He was all dried and fresh as if he hadn't come from the rain outside just half an hour lately.

"Playing in the rain?" Ryuunosuke arched an eyebrow, teasing. "You remind me of your pup days. You always loved the rain then. Haha – "

"Tell," Sesshomaru cut in – rude but not glaring. His eyes remained gazing at the rain, watering his landscape. "...why you are here…" It was a commanding statement.

The dragon demon sighed and looked at the dark unclear night sky, "I am missing those days when you were just an innocent and cheerful pup, and not this rude."

"Ryuunosuke…" Sesshomaru growled. A warning for the old youkai, but the demon lord had uttered his name. Sesshomaru rarely acknowledges but he always does when it comes to the old demon. Respect. Sesshomaru, even a little, was being respectful.

"Fine." Ryuunosuke turned to the wet landscape before him. "I am here to convince you to lend your strength to humans and help them win over my student." He heard Sesshomaru remark a word, displeased. He continued, "Karasuma have turned incredibly insane, and you know that. He must be stopped."

"He is your student," Sesshomaru's tone was indifferent. "Fix him yourself."

"It's a shame, I know. He is my responsibility and that's why I am doing this." Ryuunosuke turned to him and tried still. "Sesshomaru, this is chaos. This won't only affect humankind but us, youkais, as well."

"Ridiculous," the daiyoukai snapped.

"I am old. I rarely ask for anything but this time, I am asking you to help them."

"Haven't you heard I won't meddle? Is your age overpowering you now?"

"Don't be this hard, Sesshomaru…"

"Don't insist!" Sesshomaru's voice rose up a level, turning to the old youkai. His aura was unnecessarily flaring up. He was mad and Ryuunosuke knew he shouldn't be the least. Bad timing. The daiyoukai wasn't in the best mood to have a conversation to anyone.

"Why so tense? Calm down, my child…" Ryuunosuke plastered a smile, kind and calm.

"I am not your child," Sesshomaru hissed, eyes returning to the wet landscape ahead.

The dog demon could challenge the hardest rock for being stubbornly rooted. Nevertheless, Ryuunosuke's gaze softened. He said, "You know I always treat you like one. I…" he trailed and looked intently at the western lord, "…I still regret not having the chance to teach you."

"My strength is enough. I don't need your teachings."

"I know," is all that Ryuunosuke could say.

Silence. Only the sound of the light and scattered rain against roofs and ground was audible. At last, Sesshomaru's yoki disappeared to nothingness. He finally calmed down. "I won't meddle, Ryuunosuke," he said with a final tone.

Ryuunosuke withdraw a smile nonetheless, "I see." He turned to leave, obvious disappointment on his face. "Just say my greetings to Ah-Un. I miss his company."

"Hmm."

It was afternoon and the sun was supposed to be up in the sky but dark clouds were crowding the rays. The atmosphere wasn't helping. Sango felt so cold and yes, afraid. Never had she felt so uncertain and nervous in front of her people.

Heavy. The atmosphere was nothing but heavy. For some reasons, the air seemed so hard to take in.

"Are you ready?" asked Miroku worriedly, squeezing the hand of his wife. Sango shortly nodded, trying to hide her uncertainties. "I'll accompany you," the monk suggested.

Sango forced a smile, "Better."

The pair climbed up the steps to the open wooden stage in the middle of the village, inside the outer wall. They walked until they were both standing in the middle of the platform. Below them were the expecting citizens of the village – ordinary townsmen, division of taijiyas and also, the division of military men, the soldiers. In front of the crowd were known officers and the miko, Kikyou. Her gaze was steady and passive.

Miroku stayed behind his wife. The chief had to announce the news herself.

Silence. Only the sound of the afternoon and the birds above were the only ones occupying the sickening stillness. It was time.

"People, citizens of this renowned village," Sango's voice resounded over. She looked upon the large crowd below, face steady. The people were obviously anxious. They knew that the news to be announced would be dreadful. They were too wise – rather, too traumatic – to predict the truth.

Sango continued, "We have come so far from what we have started. Many of us died and sacrificed their lives. Every life we treasure, every memory we keep. We promised to remember and honor them. But, pain is always there and we, as well, always mourn. Grief is unbearable. Losses are the most painful part of the war. We know – we all know that pain of having to face losses over and over again." She had to fight back being emotional at the end of the sentence, remembering the death of her brother and his wife. Nevertheless, she continued, "This movement became a long journey, very long and wearying to the point that we want to stop. But…" she paused, "…we can't stop. We just can't." The people lowered their heads, as if hiding their weariness before her.

"I, Sango, as your chief, would like to ask for your strength one more time, not just for the movement, but for mankind as a whole." A pregnant pause. Deep fear was upon the citizens below, waiting and calculating. "There will be an all-out-war between youkais and men. And," Sango gulped, pushing herself to say more, "the outcome will decide if we, humans, are to exist further or not through history – " A wild gasped from the crowd, then screams, and cries. People were too afraid. Sango asserted, "We have to defend it! To defend our stand! We have to fight! Lend us your strength one more time. ONE MORE TIME!"

The cries continued. Sango looked upon her people. They were all exhausted, wounded, and hopeless – plus, lessened more than a half. The rest were dead. Nightmare. How come they become this pitiful?

"Listen..." the chief tried again. "LISTEN!" she barked over her men, trying to compose herself, pushing herself not to give in by the hopelessness she was seeing from the people below.

The crowd went quiet. "If we don't fight," she started again, almost pleading, "…we all die."

"But the war…" one of the soldiers reasoned, "We can't defeat them. We won't survive. You are asking us to fight just to die." After that, hundreds of cries overwhelmed the place.

"WE ARE GOING TO DIE! …I DON'T WANT TO DIE! …HELP US! …WHY FIGHT IF WE'LL DIE ANYWAY? …WILL THAT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?!'

Empty-handed of words, she had nothing to reason. "I know…" Sango attempted once again, her voice faltering, her vision blurring. 'Dammit! Don't cry!'

"And what? Let them kill us – our sons, daughters, families – and do nothing?!" Thankfully, Miroku turned over. The people turned quiet in a second. The monk roughly stomped his shakujo against the poor wooden surface. He roared up talking to the crowd, "HAVE YOU REALLY TURNED THIS COWARD?!" Nobody from the people answered. No one had an answer. "Then, I suppose we are really the vermin they think we are – unworthy of existence!"

The Sacred Wind was mad – extremely mad.

"Disappointing…" Below, Kikyou muttered more to herself. After all that she had seen, even she herself was disappointed. But, what could she really expect? She knew that the people would react that way – too afraid for their lives, and too coward. For that instance, she was ashamed she was the likes of them, a human.

The miko remained steady though, not moving a bit and waiting.

From the platform, Miroku continued; gaze as hard as he could. "If you don't want to fight, so be it. But don't expect us all to turn around. We'll fight. We don't need your disheartened faiths –"

An unexpected sound – solid and loud – from the dark heavens interrupted the monk. Miroku had to stop and gaze up to the sky. It was unnatural. Something about it was terrifying.

Next, wild thunderclaps roared above. A surprising strong wind blew, swirling up and down the village. One more thunderclap, and the people knew something was about to happen – another attack.

From the panicking crowd, gazing up as well, Kikyou saw some sets of lightning forming in a specific area above the village. They were swirling unnaturally along with dark grey clouds, creating a vortex. "A portal." Someone or something would certainly appear through it.

"HOUSHI-SAMA!" Kikyou tried to warn but –

The expected projectile promptly appeared from the supposed portal and wounded the air in second. Bang! The earth shook from the collision, creating thick and enormous curtain of dusts from the spot. The projectile had landed in the middle to where the crowd had started running from. Fortunately, nobody was hurt by its entrance.

The harsh wind stopped. All were quiet. Thick dusts from the shaken and disturbed earth crowded and blocked the view to the intruder.

"What the hell was that?" a woman from the crowd asked openly.

Without any hesitation, Kikyou automatically charged her bow and directed an arrow towards the direction. She could feel it – the powerful yoki behind thick layers of dusts. It was certainly a youkai and worse, a gigantic one.

Then suddenly from the blocking curtain, an enormous hand with three lizard-like fingers and deep black talons appeared. It immensely descended to the ground, creating another tremor. Then…

The same solid and loud sound was reheard. It appeared to be the lurid cry of the gigantic youkai before them – terrifying! Next, its silhouette appeared. There, they all saw a seemingly scaly creature with glinting solid blue lizard-like orbs and serpentine-like body. Another roar and they knew…

It was a dragon.

The crowd frantically screamed and ran from every direction. They had nowhere else to go and hide. To where? The youkai was indeed inside their walled territory!

This time, Sango yelled in panic from the platform, "SHOOT IT, KIKYOU! SHOOT IT!"

For she was also surprised and alarmed, the miko immediately released the arrow after. 'Kill it before it can kill us! It must be something from the North.'

Powerful pink light wounded the view, from the priestess towards the intended target. It travelled through layers of dusts and finally, to the gigantic youkai itself. Bang! A blinding light came afterward.

It took them all a minute to recover and to be fully aware of their surroundings. Right then after, the dusts cleared out and revealed a lone human figure on the supposed spot of the dragon.

Horrified voices overwhelmed the village once again. "Isn't he the dragon? …Dragon? …WHY ISN'T HE HURT, INJURED?! …WE'RE ALL DOOMED!"

The man-like figure was standing steady and firmly as if it had not come from above, as if it had not been hit by anything at all, less a purified arrow. He was wearing green and earthen colored clothes which were long and were touching the shortened grass beneath. His long hair over his shoulders appeared to be very grey and ancient which was covering his face from view. His shoulders were slacked and his back was arched downward. On one hand, he was holding a wrinkled wood which appeared to be a walking stick. On the other one, which was raised and leveled with his shoulder, was the burnt arrow of the miko. He had just caught it easily. It stayed in his clasped until it dissipated away.

The youkai was old, for certain.

Then, "Ahaha!" the youkai suddenly laughed out of the blue. The sound of his voice made the people around either tremble in fear or wonder why. "Midoriko! You remind me of Midoriko!" He gazed up to the people, revealing his wrinkled face. His lips were curved up to a seemingly merry smile. Then, his eyes turned to the lone priestess. Oh how deep those blue eyes of him! "You must be a very powerful miko to shoot me like that! Very like Midoriko, very like her…" Another seemingly misplaced gesture then he paused, eyes narrowing and inspecting, "Indeed, I can sense her in you… inside you."

Silence. The miko was uncertain of how she would react. It was her first time encountering a kind of youkai – a very merry one to be exact. Was that smile of his true or not? Most probably not.

Kikyou decided to ignore the old youkai. She readied herself once more and was about to withdraw another arrow from her quiver when the youkai spoke once again.

"You don't have to be harsh. Calm down. I am being civil here." The youkai displayed a warm smile once again.

This time, Miroku entered, his staff ready at hand, "Perhaps, being civil is entering the gates properly."

"Entrance! I have this unexplainable fetish of making different entrances and that," he pointed, "was my favorite one." He laughed once again then ceased after a moment. His tone turned rather serious afterwards. "I am not here to fight, believe me. You see, I am old. I do not seek bloodshed. Not anymore."

Another wind passed but this time, it was light and natural. The people – especially the chief, the monk, and the priestess – were all still, deciding whether to believe the intruder or not. Suddenly, "She's part of me." Kikyou put her hands on her sides, calming down.

"Pardon?" the youkai turned to her.

"Midoriko. She's part of me."

"Part of you?" the youkai's brow quirked in curiosity.

"The jewel. I am the guardian."

"Ahh, Shikon no Tama. I see. So, you are the famous miko Kikyou." He widely smiled, rather friendly. He put his both hands on top of his staff. "Midoriko was a very powerful miko, I remember." Then, he remarked quite seriously, "You are like her, yes…" he nodded then, "…but without purpose."

Kikyou had to wonder about his last statement. Without purpose?

"Who are you, anyway?" Sango interrupted quite impatiently.

The old demon turned his blue eyes to the chief. He bowed and introduced, "Ryuunosuke, the Dragon of the North."

"Ryuu… Ryuunosuke?!" Somehow, Sango was caught in surprise.

"What of him?" Miroku asked, lowering his staff.

"He was the legendary youkai who taught the late Midoriko-sama of her swordsmanship."

"Yes, and I am here," Ryuunosuke nodded, confirming. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sango, chief of the blessed taijiya village, and oh –" he turned to the monk beside the demon slayer, "Sacred Wind!" he pointed and then bowed once again. "I am a fan." Miroku had to raise an eyebrow at the term.

"What do you want?" demanded Kikyou.

Ryuunosuke's gaze went still. "I am here as a friend," his tone turned deep and serious. "I've come here to help you."

"Help us?" Sango intervened. "Why would a youkai help us?" She smirked as if she had just heard the most impossible thing.

Ryuunosuke just smiled dismissively, "Not all youkais are vicious and irrational as you think. We have principles as well, and my principle? I believe in balance." The people around listened. "We all need each other as well as we all need the earth beneath the soles of our feet, and the air in our lungs, and the trees, and the skies – everything! For some reasons, we have to coexist. Wanting to end one's existence is too foolish. There will be cost for certain. We will be gravely at fault in the end. That," he pointed, "if we let it happen."

The dragon youkai gazed up and looked at the people, "I am against of the war. But, what can I do? The young ones from the council had decided. Half of them are all in favor of the war. It's a shame that the idea came from my student, of all. He stopped from believing the balance. He is blinded by jealousy and…" he paused. "…grief."

Miroku minimally flinched. Grief. It had to be the death of Karasuma's son.

"It wasn't entirely your fault," Ryuunosuke remarked, as if he had sensed that the monk was feeling a little liable. "But, yes, you have contributed. Fault after fault. This is the result of both works and consequences."

Sango had to ask, "You said Karasuma is your student?"

"Indeed."

"You are also the master of Midoriko-sama."

"Yes…?"

Intervening, Miroku laughed hollowly, "Didn't you just make things difficult? How can we defeat a demon lord who has the same skill of a certain powerful priestess who can fight hundreds of enemies consecutively in days, and maybe better?"

"Be brave, little one. I am taking this foolishness of my student as a responsibility and that's why I am here, helping you." Again, the heavens roared with thunderclaps and lightning. The vortex was once again forming. The harsh wind reentered the village. "This is the best I can do. The rest is up to you. I deeply wish for you to win." Ryuunosuke waved a hand of farewell. "Good luck and may the heavens be on your side!"

Another flash of light fell down from the sky and blinded every human's vision. The people had to wait a minute to recover. And then…

Gone. Ryuunosuke, the legendary dragon youkai, was already out of sight.

The area around the wooden stage turned extremely quiet. The people were too surprised, up until Sango asked over, "What sort of help was he talking about?"

Then, someone called, "CHIEF!" It was a guard stationed above the first wall to look over the end territories. All eyes turned to him. He reported, "Numerous youkais are at the boundary." Once again he looked over, as if rechecking. His face turned rather pale. He was horrified. "LOTS OF THEM!"

It was an understatement.

The dwellers inside the village – soldiers and taijiyas – waited before the entrance of the first gate, wanting to defend their village. Most of them were too afraid to even stand, seeing numerous youkais ahead – four battalions perhaps, a hundred meters away and coming.

"What the hell is going on?" a soldier from the second line had to ask. Nobody had an idea, even the chief.

From the first line of defense, "It seems we'll be dead even before Tenchu, shujin," Sango remarked sarcastically, talking to the monk beside her.

"It seems…" Miroku clicked his tongue and readied his prayer beads.

"Houshi-sama…" an officer from the military division called.

"Soujiro-bugyo…" Miroku turned slightly behind to acknowledge the speaker.

"I think they are not here to fight."

Miroku's brows knitted. His prayers ceased. "What?"

The officer pointed at the first line of the nearing battalion. There was a single black-haired youkai waving his arm wildly for them to notice. "Oy, oy, oy, people!" He was yelling and calling. "Oy, Houshi!"

Miroku followed the pointed direction and searched keenly. He had to thin up his eyes for him to see. Then, he sighted – Kouga of the yoro clan was at the frontline. Beside him was the redhead Ayame.

Five officers from the taijiya village walked up ahead to meet the youkai leaders, of which one was Kouga.

Once face to face, Miroku asked, smiling widely, "What's the meaning of this?"

"What?" The wolf leader raised an eyebrow exaggeratedly, his both hands proudly on either sides of his hip. "Don't you want help? We can always leave if you want."

"No!" Miroku laughed, shaking his head. "Of course we are in need."

Kouga clicked his tongue and teased, "You're getting old..."

"No," Miroku shook his head. "I am old. The past twenty-five years is hard to deny. But that doesn't mean I am rusting." He watched the wolf youkai raise another eyebrow. The monk laughed once more, "It's a pleasure to see you, Kouga-san." He offered a hand.

Kouga looked at the hand. He hesitated at first but accepted nonetheless, "Yes, pleasure to see you too." He wasn't into that kind of gesture.

Once his hand was down, Miroku pointed, "The chief of the village, my wife Sango, do you remember?"

"Of course, I do!" Kouga turned to the woman beside the monk. The chief had her plain face on, indifferent. He shifted to introduce the redhead beside him, "Here's Ayame, my mate." The green-eyed demon nodded and slightly bowed as a manner of respect. "And here," he paused and pointed three youkais behind him. "Kentamaru of the Ox clan…" Kouga pointed the big and long-bearded youkai with deep brown eyes, the one with nothing on top but the leather straps on his chest that carries a huge metal axe on his back.

"…Nobuyuki of the Kitsune clan…" A fair-skinned youkai with kind green eyes and auburn tied hair smiled at them brightly. He bowed. The men returned the gesture afterwards.

Somehow, Miroku was reminded of their friend Shippo, a kitsune youkai. 'That was a long time ago,' he thought, smiling upon remembering.

"…and Isamu of the Lion clan." A big and light-haired male youkai stood fixedly beside the kitsune. He was wearing and covered by a light fur with a length reaching the ground. He acknowledged them differently with glaring golden eyes. The men felt rather small under his gaze.

"Worry not," assured Kouga. "He's always like that. It is something permanent." A growl from the lion demon was heard. The wolf ignored the warning.

"Four leaders, the rest from farther lands will come soon," Kouga continued. "Upon the request of that old demon…" Kouga somewhat cringed upon remembering the dragon youkai. He shook himself and added, "…and of course, upon our will, we are here to fight with you to death!" He looked at the steady men before him with fire in his eyes. "Together," he punched his palm expressively, "we will strategize, battle, and defeat that fool Karasuma!"

Miroku suddenly felt uplifted. He was certain that Sango and the rest were feeling the same way too. Help – it was something that they had given up on believing days ago. It was a miracle enough that they were being offered the sole thing they badly needed and scarce of. With the kind of hope the wolf youkai leader was offering and with the agreement of the rest, even though minimal, he was finally seeing some light appearing out from their miserable and gloomy state. However, he couldn't help but ask, "Why are you doing this? Helping us?"

"Principles…" Nobuyuki replied.

"I will kill that Rikuto," Isamu gritted.

Then, Kouga added, "…and because we all need each other – humans and youkais."

Miroku rubbed his chin, "Is this because of Kagome?"

Kouga went wide-eyed for a second, and swiftly looked upon his mate. Ayame glared at him. He sweat dropped. He turned to the monk and answered promptly, "NO! Of course not!" he sounded like the contrary. He coughed for good and cleared out, "Of course not because of her…alone." He turned rather serious. "After all these years, I've come to learn that you, humans, are not as useless as I have once thought you were."

Silence ruled over once again. That was when Miroku realized that the sky had cleared out and just like their state, had turned brighter and rather hopeful.

"Great!" Convinced, Miroku declared, "Well then, we are grateful!" – because, who was he to decline? A pause. "You are all welcome to camp outside. The walls aren't enough to occupy as all."

"Oh, we would love to!"

"The war room is inside. It is where we can plan our strategy."

A single nod was the only reply needed – and, that was enough.

At the end of the day, Miroku and his wife settled inside a guard station on top of the first wall to look over the camping youkais outside.

After some time, Sango turned to look over the citizens inside her village and saw unfathomable fear and anxiety. People were moving and walking without direction, wondering endlessly as to what the hell was happening. The people outside were dangerous youkais, indeed. Distrust and disgust were evident from the villagers. Soldiers and taijiyas were killed by youkais. It was a fact that could never be changed and could never be erased from the memories of men. However, it was the same case to the youkais. A number of them were killed by humans as well.

The situation was complex. The war was very complicated. Hope and unity seemed so hard to achieve.

"The people are uneasy with the demons," Sango sorted out. "It will be hard for us to coordinate with them in the battlefield."

"I know," Miroku thought for a moment, "but they are here to help, risking their lives for us to live. We should be grateful."

"I am grateful!" Sango snapped out, her face being lightened by the little light of the ending dusk. "I just don't know the rest of us, the generals, specifically." She clicked her tongue, "If they happen to know this, there will be chaos. Takeo-sama deeply hates youkais."

"But they have to learn to fight with them, as if we have any other choice." Pause. A cold breeze blew pass them. "When will they come?"

"Two days, maximum."

"I see."

Monogatari…

There was a single well called the Bone Eater's. They said it held a connection between the present era and the unknown future.

Five years after the dark times of the hanyou Naraku, the well unexpectedly sealed down. Gone was the connection. Three people – one was a special case – were reportedly left on the other side.

NOTES:

Soujiro - wise boy

Nobuyuki - faithful happiness

Isamu - courage

Takeo - valiant male, violent/warrior male