Chapter 6- Treachery within the Tomb
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Disclaimer: see chapter 1
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There was a chamber that Inuyasha suggested they could use. It housed a field of tall, high-grown grass. It was the perfect place to meditate, providing enough coverage so that they could be in the nude without seeing each other—being separated by a thin wall of grass.
So they did just that; stripping down bare and then settling across from each other, before reaching their palms through that wall and connecting—palm to palm, opening up channels of energy for circulation through one another. For about an hour they would meditate, familiarizing themselves with each other's energy signature…
Besides this, Inuyasha and Kikyou set about to learn the intricate sword moves. Inuyasha always fell slightly out of sync. And Kikyou would stop and tap him with her sword---annoyed.
Still they pressed on, and soon, practicing like this became second nature. Everyday, around noon, Kikyou and Inuyasha would strip down to practice deep meditation; and while their swordplay could use work, they got the rudimentary elements of it down.
Several weeks time went by like this for the two isolated in the tomb…
And outside, life went on as usual. On this particular day, a young woman approached the mountain tomb where Kikyou and Inuyasha resided. Her bangs parted in the middle, long hair tied up into a high ponytail—she wore a very distinctive ninja outfit complete with pieces of pink armor, and--for a weapon—she had a huge boomerang was strapped to her back.
She felt at the giant slab that blocked the entrance of the tomb, and was in awe at the sheer size of it---all of it manmade. This tomb that Lin Chaoying built.
"Master, is this it?" She asked, turning to the figure now emerging from the shadows of the wood…
Tsubaki—looking not a day older than when she attacked Imeji Castle eighteen years ago. Only her hair, which was once a lustrous black, was now a grayish white. But the coloring had only served to enhance the blue of her eyes, so that now she was even more beautiful.
She approached the younger woman and nodded. Then, to herself, she said, "I had hoped that it wouldn't come to this, sister. I had wanted to flush you out, but it seems that you are far more obedient than I. Now we are here…"
She touched the rocky surface of the tomb, the memories coming back to her. And she felt her heart harden as she hissed, "It's time to settle this once and for all."
At that moment, inside the tomb, Inuyasha and Kikyou were settled across from each other in seated lotus position. Their palms connected. Eyes closed in deep concentration. And they remained that way, as they had these past few weeks, practicing circulating internal energy through each other…
The entrance to this particular chamber was high up—more like a hole carved into the side of the wall. Anyone who wished to enter this part of the tomb had to leap down. And now, approached Tsubaki and her pupil to that same entrance.
Her pupil was first…
And she had to stop and gasped in surprise at what she saw, "Oh wow…"
Tsubaki came up behind her. "What is it--?"
She found herself shocked out her word…
Because there--in front of her--were two small figures seated in the distance. And she flushed bright red, immediately recognizing that one of them was none other then her sister. The other…
A male?
Worst, both were barren of any amount of decent clothing.
Tsubaki gritted her teeth, disbelieving that her own apprentice sister would engage in this sacrilege. And she leapt, flying down to confront Kikyou.
Sango saw and exclaimed, "Wait for me!" Before leaping down to follow Tsubaki.
Now Kikyou had fallen too deeply into her meditation that all of her senses were cut off from the world---she couldn't detect her sister's presence in the chamber. Inuyasha's ear---his sharp hearing---however, picked up on the rustling of grass as he heard a person…
No.
Two people…approaching. And rather quickly too.
Inuyasha opened his eyes to glance over; and, sure enough, two women were running towards them. Face flushed in urgency.
And Inuyahsa's head snapped up in panic. He glanced between Kikyou and the two women. Back and forth. Realizing the compromising position that they were in. Kikyou—her eyes still tightly closed…
If he had yelled to Kikyou to warn her to look out, her internal energy flow would be disrupted…the results of that, he knew, would be disastrous—
On the other hand, if he didn't act, the intruders would see the two of them in such indecency.
For Inuyasha, it didn't matter what others thought of him. He had been used to the prejudices that people cast at him. But Kikyou…
Kikyou was a completely different story. Inuyasha knew he wouldn't…no couldn't…let Kikyou's reputation be sullied. And in that instant, he made a decision…
He parted his palms from hers, rolled to the side and grabbed his pants.
Kikyou immediately felt his absence. Her hands reaching out in search and not finding his—
And there was such a sudden and immediate shock—the energy flow was cut off so abruptly—that it felt like someone just flung a hammer and slugged it into her chest. With the internal energy backed up in her system, her head lifted and she spat out a spray of blood.
Inuyasha, dressed in his pants, wasted no time—
He grabbed Kikyou as she was about to fall over and slung her outerwear on her, fastening it like robe in one quick motion…
Just as the two women arrived.
The older one shouted at Kikyou, "So this is what you've been up? So shamelessly fornicating!"
Kikyou opened her mouth to protest but only managed to hack up even more blood—her entire circulation system had backed up on itself, wrecking havoc within her body.
Inuyasha held onto Kikyou tighter, and growled at Tsubaki. "Forni-what? What the hell are you blabbering about, lady? And how the hell did you get in here?"
"Inuyasha," Kikyou said. Her voice coming out weak, but she still managed. "Don't be so disrespectful. This is my elder sister—your senior."
"What?"
Inuyasha looked at the woman in black, long grey hair past her shoulders. And he couldn't believe that this was the woman was Kikyou's elder sister. He had heard of her countless times, but Kikyou had made it so certain that her elder sister would never return to this tomb—Inuyasha never imagined that he would actually meet her.
Tsubaki, at the same time, was likewise surprised. "So," she thought, "Kikyou's gone so far as to take him as apprentice. Mightiest well make use of this situation."
She spat at him, asserting the authority that came with her status as elder sister. "That's right, young pup. Know your place. Just because you used your charms to pull the wool over my sister's eyes, don't think you could do the same with me."
And she looked him over, up and down, before adding, "Besides, I prefer older men."
"Go for you?" Inuyasha had to ask, as if. Beautiful as Tsubaki was, she couldn't compare to even a fifth of what Kikyou was in Inuyasha's mind. And he had to say, "Don't flatter yourself. You hag!"
"What did you say?!"
Never had she been so insulted. And she lunged for Inuyasha, about to take out his insolent throat with a swipe of her hand, when she felt arms holding her back. "Let me go, Sango! I order you to!"
Still, her apprentice held on tight. "Master! Don't…" Sango gritted her teeth, trying with all her might to keep Tsubaki from Inuyasha. "Don't forget what we came for. Remember the Jade Heart Manual."
Kikyou's eyes snapped open in alarm despite the pain. She struggled in Inuyasha's arms and he could see her panic. "Sister, you don't mean to…"
The look on Tsubaki told Kikyou all she needed to know. "You can't…" Kikyou said, "Master banished you. You don't have the right to learn the Manual."
"Right?" Tsubaki asked laughing at the logic in that. "Right? Don't give me that nonsense." Her eyes narrowed, remembering with bitterness, "The Master never had any intention of teaching the Manual anyways. It was always you she intended to leave this sect to…and if she had known that you would use our sacred tomb to house your boy toy here," Tsubaki said, pointing at Inuyasha. "She'd probably be rolling her grave right about now."
But Kikyou just ignored Tsubaki's quip and reminded her of the facts. "You tried to kill her."
"Details," Tsubaki shoot back, remorseless. "And anyways," she continued. "Let's not waste time dwelling on the past. What I want to know is the location of the Jade Heart Manual. And you will give it to me or else—"
"Don't threaten my master!"
Tsubaki eyed Inuyasha at his bold interruption and snapped, "Hold your tongue or I'll be forced to remove it from your skull." She had had enough, and she turned to her apprentice, telling her, "Sango, tie them up."
"Yes, master." Sango approached, pulling out a coil of rope.
At this, Inuyasha laid Kikyou on the grass and stood up. Ready to fight. Ready to resist.
Tsubaki read his intentions and held out her hand, warning, "Don't even try it. One false move out of you and I won't hesitate to kill your beloved teacher; and I highly doubt you would want to risk that."
And Inuyasha knew she spoke the truth. He lowered his hands to his side, steaming. All he could do was glare as Sango approached, readying her rope…
It was only a while later that he found himself tied to one of the many long wooden post housed in the chamber for martial art practice. Kikyou rested her head on his shoulder as she sat, tied up next to him—her face paler than usual. Her breathing slightly labored.
But Tsubaki ignored all that as she paced back and forth, interrogating and threatening with her long, leathered whip that she would lash out then and again.
Still…
They would not speak. A stubborn pair.
And Tsubaki thought with bitterness about how even in death her master worked against her—ordering Kikyou to not reveal the Jade Heart Manual.
And she lashed out, slapping Inuyasha hard across his face when he failed to answer yet again.
For a while, Inuyasha just breathed hard. Blood dripping down one nostril. Then he turned and faced her. Eyes glaring out from beneath his long bangs in defiance…
And it was then that she noticed…
Why hadn't she noticed before?
And Tsubaki had to lean in closer to be sure that what she wasn't looking at wasn't a figment of her imagination.
No. They couldn't be…
Inu no Taishou's eyes? Staring back at her now.
And how could she forget? Those eyes with amber flecks floating in a pool of yellow. How they had captivated her…
"Master?" Sango asked, concerned. She sensed Tsubaki's sudden change in mood.
Tsubaki ignored Sango and instead looked now at the tail resting on the ground. Inuyasha's tail. And she knew that there was no mistaking it—
This boy was Izayoi's boy.
"Who?" Inuyasha asked, when Tsubaki said the name. "Izayoi? Is that supposed to mean something to me?"
So…
Guo Jing didn't tell him.
And Tsubaki thought of how fate had conspired to arrange something so devious. This infant, who had escaped her grasp eighteen years ago, was now tied up. At her mercy. And Guo Jing won't be here to save him this time…
As Tsubaki thought of how she would savor this moment, having the son of her sworn enemy tortured and ultimately killed—
Inuyasha used this moment of distraction to saw at the rope with his pinkie claw…
It was gradual, but he worked the rope so that it was just about right. Till…
Snap! With a grunt, Inuyasha snapped the rope and broke himself free of the restraint—knocking Tsubaki to the ground in surprise. And he grabbed Kikyou, before leaping and connecting a lethal roundhouse kick at the post---splitting the wooden post and sending the top half crashing down ontop of Tsubaki...
It had all been so quick that Tsubaki had no defense—as the post pinned her with its great weight. She looked in time to see Inuyasha fleeing, carrying Kikyou in tow. He leapt onto one wooden post and made his way to the exit of the room…
Disappearing.
Tsubaki growled and looked over at Sango, who stood, dumb with surprise. "What are you waiting for? Get this thing off of me!"
"Huh? Oh right!" Sango snapped out of her reverie and hurried over to help her master, placing two hands underneath the log and lifting…
"Hurry!"
"I'm trying. It's heavy," Sango grunted.
And Tsubaki channeled her inner energy to push upwards with her chest while Sango lifted. Together, they finally managed to lift the log enough for Tsubaki to shimmy free. Sango dropped the log with a thud and breathed rapidly…
Glad to get rid of that Herculean weight.
Tsubaki stood up and dusted herself off. When they felt the ground shake...accompanied by a distant but very distinctive explosion.
Tsubaki gasped, realizing, "They must've sealed off the entrance."
"You mean, we're trapped?! What do we do?" Sango panicked at the idea of being in this living tomb till…
"We have to get out of here! Isn't there only one way out of the tomb?"
Tsubaki replied, "So it's believed. But I would bet anything that my ancestor would've had a backup route somewhere…and my apprentice sister would know exactly where it is. Find her and we'll find both the Jade Heart Manual and the exit."
Inuyasha sat on the icy chilled platform that was his bed with Kikyou's body cradled close to him. Together, they tried to control the internal energy now running rampant through Kikyou.
And they sat there. Quiet. Until Kikyou spoke…
"She craved love," Kikyou said softly, thinking of her sister. "These worldly attachments..."
And Inuyasha could feel how cold Kikyou's skin was, as she had no inner energy left to maintain her core temperature. So Inuyasha just held on tighter, trying to use his body to ward off the cold slowly, but surely, overcoming her…
But Kikyou continued speaking. And she sounded so sad now, talking about Tsubaki—as if her heart longed to reach out to her. To help her somehow, but knowing the futileness of it, simply said, "My elder sister is lost."
She then turned slightly to Inuyasha, whose head was over her shoulder as he held onto her. And she whispered, "We'll die here, Inuyasha."
From the chill of the room, her words formed condensed vapors in the air…
And he understood. How her body seemed to go slack against his. How her breathing gradually became more relaxed….
He could tell that this was her way of saying goodbye. And he shook his head vehemently, saying, "No. Don't say that. You won't die. What will I do without you, elder sister Kikyou? I couldn't live."
"Why?"
"Because!" Inuyasha exclaimed, as he just snuggled closer to the crook of her neck--as if holding her was enough to shield away the coils of impending mortality.
And for Kikyou, there was something about his steadfast sincerity that touched her…
Perhaps it was being so close to death…
That now the walls erected around Kikyou's heart began to come apart; and she spoke, for the first time, what was on her mind--reaching to touch the warmth of his cheek with her fingertips, she acknowledged, "Inuyasha, you've grown."
That they now stood on equal grounds was a fact Kikyou had to now accept; because in death, there is no separation. No status between master and pupil. No gender. No age gap. All returned to the same earth…
And Inuyasha was no longer the boy she trained. But a man that stood as her peer in life, and will follow in death.
Perhaps that was why she allowed herself to feel…
Because this would be the last time.
And Kikyou bought Inuyasha's face close to hers and rested her cheek against his. Tears slipping silently down her face; as she allowed herself to think of how much this person, sitting so near…
How much he meant to her.
There was no use in putting it off—
"Bring me to the stone coffin room, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha perked up and she saw him hesitate, knowing exactly what she intended to do. So Kikyou pressed, "I made a promise to my late master—to guard this tomb. Whatever happens, I must never leave it."
"But that's ridiculous," he protested. "She obviously never anticipated anyone would be stupid enough to try to break into this tomb. Otherwise, she would've never made you promise."
"But I did…and now I must keep that promise."
"No!"
"Inuyasha! This is your master's command. You dare disobey?!"
Kikyou hadn't used that voice with him for years; and Inuyasha recognized the imperious tone in her command. He realized that there was no used fighting with her. There was no choice…
So he lifted her up and carried her…
And soon, he found himself staring at the stone coffin resting in rows—in the same places they were when he came here eight years ago to put Kaede's body to rest. Now, Kikyou…
"Put me in there," she said, pointing to the box with the opened lid.
Again, he hesitated. But she repeated, more gently this time. "That's my command."
And he walked up to the coffin before placing her inside. Then kneeling besides the stone box, he peered in and asked her, "Let me stay with you, elder sister Kikyou. Please."
"What do you mean? You're already here."
"No, I mean inside the box."
Kikyou wrinkled her brow in confusion "You want to get in here?"
He nodded, pleading.
Kikyou paused, thinking for a moment…
There was no harm in indulging his little request. "All right," she said, "get in here then."
And he climbed in, settling down next to her. The coffin was tight and Inuyasha barely managed to squeeze in. So they lay there, side by side, facing the half closed lid of the coffin.
"I'll stay with you," Inuyasha said again, and Kikyou nodded…
And then they were silent. Each contemplating if this was how the end would be.
Only Kikyou's heavy breathing was heard, as she fought to keep her internal energy in check. And it was then that Inuyasha noticed something---
Strange…
On the back of the stone coffin lid. He had been so focused on Kikyou that he didn't notice it until now.
"Elder sister, what's that?" He asked, pointing to the ink scribbled on the lid---it was barely visible in the dim light of the room…
But they were words!
Kikyou looked and read the words to herself before announcing, "The ancestor wrote this. There's another room…"
"Another room?"
"Yes. One below this one. I've lived all my life here, but I never heard of this…"
"How do we access it? Does the writing say?" Inuyasha asked; his curiosity was peaked like a kid—eager to learn.
Kikyou read on and answered, "There's a switch, it says. Somewhere in the coffin."
Inuyasha hands fumbled around, searching the sides…
Nothing but solid stone. Then he reached above his head and felt a small hallow—his hands reaching inside to grab a hold of what felt to be a lever...
"I think I got it!" He looked over at Kikyou, excited, before asking, "Are you ready?"
After a beat, Kikyou replied, "Do it."
With that, Inuyasha pulled. Then waited…
But nothing happened.
"Switch must be brok----eeennnnn!!!" As the floor that was the bed of the coffin suddenly gave way, dropping them on an incline…
They yelled as the ramp connected to what could only be described as a long water slide.
As the two of them sped downwards on the slick surface, Kikyou holding fast onto Inuyasha. Ahead of him, beyond his boots, Inuyasha could make out water—
A whole lake of water. Seconds before they fell—
With a splash, both their bodies dropped, plunging into the underneath the surface of the lake.
Inuyasha recovered quickly, opening his eyes and kicking to regain his orientation when he looked over to see…
Kikyou---
Floating unconscious from the cold of the water and the strength of the impact.
She was in trouble. And Inuyasha wasted no time, kicking towards her---grabbing a hold of her shoulders and shaking her to wake her up.
No good.
Without another thought, Inuyasha touched his mouth to hers and breathed, exchanging air with her…
As the pair swirled around slowly around each other, light breaking through the water's surface to illuminate them.
And, after a moment, Kikyou opened her eyes, Inuyasha parting from her. He gave her a smile and then motioned to the surface.
Together, hand in hand, Inuyasha led her as they kicked towards the surface—
Finally breaking through, both gasping. And Kikyou clung weakly onto Inuyasha, who glanced around…
They were on the inside of some cavern…
And ahead of them---the outside world.
Something that Inuyasha hadn't seen in what felt like an eternity…
And he swam towards it now, holding onto Kikyou…
Finally reaching the bank, Inuyasha placed Kikyou gently down. "Elder sister Kikyou," he said, "you've very hurt. I'm going to channel your internal energy for you."
"Forget it," Kikyou said, "there's not enough time. I know my sister will find a way out. And we can't let her catch us. She'll kill us if we wait."
"Right," Inuyasha nodded, and with a huff, he lifted her up. Without a clue where to go, Inuyasha took off.
The End Chapter 6
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Author's Notes:
I told you I'd squeeze Sango somewhere in there. She's taking over the role of Hong Lingbo in this fic—although I plan to use her to a greater extent (involving Miroku of course).
This chapter was a little bit rushed---I'll confessed to that. But I wanted to get it out.
The next chapter is going to mark the return of Sesshomaru. =D
All right, I'm out for now. But I will be back. Until then. Leave me reviews and read my Author's notes in regards to Xiao Long Nu's rape. VOTE!