The castle was a mess with collapsed stairs and walkways. It wasn't as straight forward as before for the group, and Inuyasha was overwhelmed with Naraku's scent. It took a joint effort to navigate and Miroku was leading them down a hall until he stopped, putting his hand up signaling to stay back. They all pressed against the wall as he peeked around the corner. There was a faint hum and Miroku whispered back to them, "Saimyosho down this hallway, we can't go up from here."
"So he's still patrolling the area," Sango said to herself. "We'll need to backtrack, find a way underneath them to go back up."
"Damn this is annoying," Inuyasha grumbled, but they followed Yuuki back down the hallway to try again.
Finding a path to pass under the Saimyosho undetected, they managed to find a stairwell still intact to get back up. They were making good momentum until Yuuki came to a sudden halt upon entering a room. Inuyasha nearly ran into her, making Kagome bump into his back. "Why'd you stop!?" He snapped from annoyance.
Yuuki glanced at him briefly, but stared ahead of herself in disbelief. "Z-zombies?"
"Undead?" Sango questioned in alarm.
Yuuki and Inuyasha backed out of the doorway so the others could witness the slow, staggering corpses of servants and samurai. They slowly turned their heads towards them, a red light glowing in their eye sockets. Their skin was decayed and black, and more of them were slowly filing into the room from other doorways. "This isn't good," Miroku commented gravely. "Undead can sense the vitality of the living. They're slow, but Naraku will have numbers and they'll swarm to us."
"Well then," Inuyasha drew his Tessaiga and readied it at the corpses. "Guess I'll start mowing them down."
Yuuki frowned at him, "Don't be so quick to fight."
Glaring back at her he shot back, "Well if we do nothing then we're cornered."
"Yuuki's right, Inuyasha," Sango spoke up and they looked to her. "Cut them down and they'll merely rise again. It will be a waste of time trying to fight them all, considering how many must be in this castle. Our best bet is to out run them."
"If we separate we'll have a better chance of losing them," Miroku added and she nodded to him.
"All right," facing off with the undead again Inuyasha said, "You guys go on ahead; I'll keep them busy so they can't follow."
Kagome instinctively became worried, a hand drawing to her chest. "But Inuyasha-"
"I'll be right behind you," he promised, the zombies closing in.
"We'll regroup at the castle tower," Miroku said and they ran off, leaving Inuyasha to cut down the horde that formed.
As they ran Yuuki said to them, "Kagome and I will take Shippo, Sango and Miroku with Kirara."
"Right," they all agreed, and more undead were filtering into the narrow hall from various rooms. Kagome snagged up Shippo as they ducked down another hall while Miroku threw his sutra, Sango following up behind him.
Unfortunately it was a dead end for Yuuki and Kagome, but they kept running. The undead may have been slow to move due to the rigor mortis fighting the black magic, however they appeared quick in the mind. Aware of where they were, a sword was stabbed through a tatami door, nearly stabbing Kagome in the face as she yelped and dodged. "That was too close!" Shippo cried, clutching to Kagome's chest fearfully.
They stopped at the dead end and Kagome turned to Yuuki, "What do we do?"
Yuuki looked back down the hall to see corpses emerging, more coming down from the end of the hall. She glanced around and on a whim opened a door next to them, "Inside!" Kagome ran in and Yuuki shut the door behind them, making sure to grab dressers and other available furniture to block the door.
"Now we're trapped!" Shippo shouted and jumped out of Kagome's arms, looking around the enclosed room. "What now? We can't fight out at this point."
"We're fine, Shippo," Kagome assured as she looked around as well. She then gasped in delight, spotting a weakness in a wall. "I got it, Yuuki, hold the door down!"
"On it," she replied as she was already bracing her blockade, the door rattling as the undead tried to get in.
Kagome got on her knees and started ripping away at the wood panels, tearing off the broken pieces. Shippo pounced next to her and dug furiously with her, determined to be helpful in their escape. A sword stabbed through the door and Yuuki ducked down, grinding her teeth as she pushed against the rattling furniture. They started breaking and tearing down the doors, pushing against one another to try and climb inside.
Once the hold into the next room was large enough, Shippo ran through and called back, "It's empty!"
Yuuki waited until Kagome crawled through first before darting away, rolling towards the hole while the blockade collapsed. Once she crawled through, Kagome picked up Shippo again and they ran out of the room back up the hall, leaving behind the mass of zombies that slowly caught on. "I think we can reach the castle tower if we go this way," Kagome said before rounding a corner.
Yuuki followed after her and watched as they rounded another corner, only for Kagome to cry out in surprise and quickly backpedal. A rather large samurai corpse advanced on them with his katana ready. "Fox fire!" Shippo summoned a ball of blue flame in his panic, but it saved them as it scared off the samurai. Yuuki bolted for them and jumped into action, kicking her foot through the fire and knocking the undead down.
"Other way!" Kagome called as she ran down the other hall with broken flooring. Holding tight onto Shippo, she ran and jumped the gap, making it to the other side. Yuuki ran after her and jumped as well, but as her foot touched the other side the flooring broke away on her and she fell. "Yuuki!" They both cried out.
Yuuki fell and landed on her back hard on the floor below. The wind was knocked out of her for a moment and she coughed until she gained her breath back. Shippo hopped out of Kagome's arms and they both knelt to the hole, peering down at her. "Are you okay?" Shippo called down.
"I-I'm fine," she called back, slowly getting back to her feet. Looking herself over she saw a few scrapes and cuts, nothing gushing or broken thankfully. A quick look around and there were zombies slowly emerging from the hall ahead of her. Looking up at them she said, "The hole will keep them from following you, go on and we'll meet at the tower!"
Kagome nodded, trusting her friend. "Please stay safe," she said before disappearing.
"Good luck!" Shippo went after her.
Yuuki followed after them and glanced back, seeing the large samurai jumped down from the hole. Stairs, stairs, I need stairs! The first staircase she found was partially collapsed, however she found herself with no other option with all the zombies massing behind her and nowhere else to go. Sprinting ahead, she ran onto the wall and kicked off, barely reaching the steps. She hooked on with her arms and quickly climbed up, the undead throwing broken wood and stabbing at her with spears. Running up the remaining stairs to the next level, she didn't see any sign of Kagome or the others. Hopefully they all are making it to the tower without too many complications.
She continued on without seeing many undead. Taking the straightest shot she could, she entered a room and came to a sudden halt, staring wide eyed at a lithe man in black robes. Ah, fuck me.
The man that Yuuki could only assume was one of Naraku's lackeys grinned at her with jagged teeth. "Ah, I'm lucky enough to find one." She sensed the demonic aura swirling around her and she glanced back, seeing the doors shut on their own.
She pulled of her rosary and faced off with him. "Who are you? Naraku's Incarnation?"
He tilted his head sharply in a broken angle, his long black hair falling down. "I was born from the corpses of samurai Naraku devoured. I am Shiimaru." He then held his arm out with palm open, and a katana blade slowly emerged from it. Literally an extension of his arm.
A sigh slipped from her nose. She wondered if it was Naraku's plan all along to force them to split up and encounter his incarnations. She glanced around the room to judge its size. Shiimaru would be fine wielding his sword, however her rosary was a longer ranged weapon. Sango has a long ranged weapon, and she's able to fight in confined spaces just fine. Body tight, minimal movement while using her arm and wrist to navigate her weapon. No one is going to be here to help me. She had plenty of athleticism and flexibility thanks to her acrobatics club. Acro dancing, aerial silk performing, and most importantly rhythmic gymnastics with the ribbon wand would be her keys to successfully beating him and moving on to the others.
Shiimaru moved first, and he moved fast. Yuuki was caught off guard and was forced to retreat from him first as he swung his sword around wildly. She bared her teeth and jumped back. With a twirl and a flick of her wrist her rosary whipped at the incarnation.
It was Naraku's stench, there was no mistaking it.
Sesshomaru was flying across the dusk sky above the derelict castle town. With his mokomoko flowing behind him, Jaken was snuggled in the pure white pelt after he had insisted that he should join his lord. Sesshomaru would have preferred to go alone, however Jaken claimed he knew the castle grounds, so he supposed that his servant would be useful. He flew over the castle and landed in the garden around the back, landing lightly on his feet and walking for the back entrance.
Sesshomaru's mokomoko flicked and flung Jaken off into the sands. He yelped as he was tossed and scrambled to his feet, staring up at the castle surprised. "We're already here!" Looking after his lord, he panicked when he spotted the end of his mokomoko disappearing around the corner inside. "W-Wait for me, Lord Sesshomaru!" He wailed running after him.
Sesshomaru was unbothered as Jaken ran around him to assume the lead of the group. He glanced down to see Jaken mumbling to himself, looking up and down halls before making a decision. Jaken appeared to know his way, however he was still slower than Sesshomaru would have liked. Naraku's scent is overwhelming this castle. Finding him will not be as easy as I would like. While mildly frustrating, he knew how to keep composure. Naraku would face his wrath sooner or later.
As Jaken raced up a rotting staircase, he called back to his lord, "It's strange that we're not being attacked by any demons." As Sesshomaru reached the top of the stairs he spotted Jaken peering into a room before scurrying off. "You would think Naraku would have put up a sort of defense since he's cornered now."
Right as Jaken passed by a room, a katana cleanly cut through a tatami door and stabbed through Jaken's cap. The imp froze, glanced up, and then panicked with a yell. Flailing he ran while Sesshomaru paused, watching the undead soldier tear down the doors. The scent of rotten flesh was faint among Naraku's odor, however he anticipated the smell to become stronger further in. An army of undead to slow me down with overwhelming numbers. A feeble attempt. Jaken moved out of his way while he drew his Tokijin. While his Tenseiga would be better fitted, Sesshomaru refused to allow sheer numbers of undead to force him to change to his less desired weapon.
He allowed the undead to approach him slowly, and once close enough in a single swing he cut them down. With a flick of his sword he flung off the black blood that stained his blade. Jaken hurried to his side and inspected the bodies. "These are merely humans. What is Naraku planning? They're no match for us; what good did he think these would do?" He then gasped in surprise and Sesshomaru looked down.
From the severed bodies a small light that they could only assume was a soul floated up and away. "You freed their souls with just your Tokijin?" Jaken questioned. "That's a rather cheap resurrection spell. No- more like animation dolls. Naraku obviously didn't put much effort into his last stand. Perhaps he decided to give us a warm up?" He looked up at his lord, and Sesshomaru merely stared back with his cold hard expression. Sensing that his lord was becoming agitated at wasted time, Jaken spun around and lifted his staff. "Onward!" He nervously hurried along while Sesshomaru followed.
As they ascended the castle they came across more undead soldiers that Sesshomaru quickly dispatched. After he cleared another hallway Jaken rushed passed him to the end of the hall at another crossroad. Sesshomaru followed and watched as Jaken hesitated and looked around confused. "What is that?"
Sesshomaru approached him and paused as well, smelling the new scent that pierced through Naraku's, smothering out the rotten flesh. "Wisteria flowers," Sesshomaru identified for Jaken. For a demon, his servant's olfactory senses were mediocre at best.
"It's an unusually strong smell," Jaken commented and sniffed the air. "It's odd that flowers are growing in a place like this, especially in this season." Jaken then continued on down the hall and Sesshomaru followed.
Not the scent of flowers, he thought, but the scent of a being. It was almost difficult to identify, however the scent came more clear the further they went. Wisteria with the unique smell an individual carried. I assume that half breed and his pack are here, however none of them have this scent. Ascending more stairs, Jaken halted upon seeing more undead. "That's odd," he commented, and Sesshomaru joined him in seeing the soldiers coming out of the rooms. However they merely glanced their way before walking the opposite way. "I might be wrong, but I believe they're flocking to the flowers. However they're blocking our path still."
Sesshomaru walked passed him towards the undead that were massing at a set of doors. Over the groans and moans of the corpses, he could hear the sounds of fighting beyond the doors. Clang of metal and faint grunting. He deftly swung his Tokijin and mowed the dead down, clearing the way for the doors. Jaken came running up and opened the doors just enough to peer into the room.
A young human woman with unruly long brown hair and striking lavender eyes. She was spinning and circling, fighting off an Incarnation that wielded a sword. She was covered in cuts, bleeding enough for the undead to be swarming the room. Using a rosary whip, she moved quite nimbly in the confined space. Her eyes were burning with determination though her breathing was labored, fending off and parrying the Incarnation's blade while turning to cut down the undead that advanced on her. She would surely be overwhelmed at any moment.
"Lord Sesshomaru," he glanced down at his servant. "We need to pass through this room to continue."
Parrying the blade again, she kicked away an undead and faced her palm at the Incarnation. "Purify!" The spiritual energy exploded from her palm, however Shiimaru twirled in a dodge around the light, catching her off guard. She went wide eyed and panicked. He's too fast-! As quick as she could she pulled her arm back, but not without the blade slicing down her arm. She cried out in pain, stumbling back into the undead soldiers that grabbed onto her. She clutched her arm close, trying to stop the bleeding as she glared at the demon knock off.
Just as she began praying for help, the doors on the other side blew open. Sesshomaru was nothing but a white blur to Yuuki as he flew around the room, his gleaming sword moving faster than even Shiimaru could register. Before she could even blink the Incarnation's head was lobbed off and rolled to her feet. Once she did blink Shiimaru's body caught up and blood squirted from the open neck before collapsing. The white blur was still going around the room and she turned as quick as she could, and for a moment that seemed to slow down she was able to see him.
Who is that...?
Her wide eyes of awe locked onto his golden sharp ones. The seconds slowed down as he neared her with his black blood coasted sword ready. A crescent moon on his forehead and maroon stripes on his cheeks, pointed ears that told her that he was a full blooded demon. Flowing white hair and robes, she was baffled at the resemblance he had to Inuyasha.
"Move, girl!"
The shrill voice cut through her daze to her senses. Time came back up to speed and she dove out of his way, springing off her good arm and crouching in the corner, watching as he cut down the last few undead. Her grip on her rosary was iron clad as she stared up at the demon that finally stood still. This man... This man was powerful. Sesshomaru flicked his sword again, ridding it of the black blood that splattered onto Shiimaru's corpse. He glanced back at her, seeing her staring him down. He could see in her eyes that she was reading him as much as she could, and judging by her being on edge she could sense his power. Much like Naraku suppressing his and suspending it above their heads, Yuuki felt as if this demon was an ocean, calm and composed on the outside, but underneath was a storm. If she got caught in it she would die. Her grip tightened even more on her rosary. If he fights me then I'm dead.
She's wary of me. She's smart. Smarter than his younger brother's other friends, he assumed. Sesshomaru could spot that she wore the same clothing as that priestess, the one from another time. So, she's also not from this world. Odd, considering not just anyone could traverse the barrier of time.
"Don't just stare at Lord Sesshomaru like a gaping fish!" The same voice pierced her again and she snapped her head to the side, seeing the green imp in brown robes holding a two faced staff. He was glaring at her with giant yellow eyes, "He saved your life, be grateful!"
She blinked and looked back to Sesshomaru. Carefully she replied, "Thank you..." So, he didn't have to be an enemy.
Jaken perked up and turned to his lord, "This way, my lord!" He then scurried off beyond the room.
Sesshomaru stared at Yuuki for a moment longer and she swallowed, however she didn't back down her gaze. After a moment of her holding her breath, the demon turned and followed after his servant. Her scent was strangely overwhelming, and Sesshomaru needed to get away in order to locate Naraku. Once they left the room she was able to breathe again, and she was able to think.
First her arm was on fire from pain. She frowned down at her blood soaked arm, feeling it wasn't stopping yet. Oh well, she would have to deal with it. Lord Sesshomaru. She had never heard the name before. She didn't know exactly why he was here, but she could only assume he was here for Naraku as well. With his strength he could possibly defeat him... She stood, holding her arm still and walked for the hall they left in.
"Uh- just a moment, Lord Sesshomaru!" The imp's voice said.
Yuuki peered down the hall at him, watching as the Imp was frantically looking around, somehow completely ignoring her.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten where the road is, Jaken." She shivered at the sound of Sesshomaru's voice. Commanding and cold, but he wasn't angry. As much as she was frightened of him by first impressions, she couldn't help but be impressed. If this demon reaches Naraku first then he just might kill him. As good as that would be, Yuuki needed Naraku alive to return home.
Yuuki ran. Jaken was still looking around the hall nervously as he felt his lord approach from behind. He needed to find the correct path and quick! Then that blasted girl went running by holding her wound. Angrily he opened his mouth to yell, but then thought better of it. "Girl!" Yuuki faltered in her stride and glanced back. Jaken perked up, "Yes, you! Girl! Wait!"
Shit. She glanced passed him at Sesshomaru as he emerged from a room, looking directly at her. As Jaken approached her she looked down at him. He frowned back and shouted, "Don't give me that look!"
Her brows furrowed confused. "What look." Sesshomaru watched her carefully, sensing she had the urge to run. She glanced up at him again as he approached. She had her own business with Naraku, and apparently knew the path better than Jaken did. Perhaps she would be useful.
Jaken eyed her in distaste, not liking her attitude and asked, "Do you know the way to the castle tower?" Yuuki hesitated too long. "You do!" He exclaimed in delight and she narrowed her eyes in annoyance. "Then take us there."
"Thank you for saving my life," she said firmly, looking back up at Sesshomaru. "But I have my own reasons for finding Naraku. I can't let you interfere."
"Whatever your motives are," Jaken said approaching her, "You're bleeding quite heavily from that wound. Undead will flock to you and you'll only be overwhelmed again." Yuuki frowned. While he was loud, he was still smart, both she and Sesshomaru thought. "Guide us to the castle tower and we'll help protect your feeble human body." She glared daggers at him, but he was unfazed with the backing of his lord. "Well!?" He barked.
Yuuki's lip raised and she stomped down on the imp, squishing him into the floor boards. "You make a good point," she relented as she grounded her foot into Jaken. After getting her frustration out, she glanced up at Sesshomaru again. He didn't say anything, he didn't even appear bothered that she abused his servant. Stepping off of Jaken to his sweet relief, she bore her eyes into Sesshomaru's. "I don't know what your motives are either, but I won't let you get to Naraku first."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes slightly. She's confident. Despite the fact that she knew he could kill her easily, she had her own resolve. She then walked off leading the way. As Jaken got back up, quickly trying to compose himself he grumbled, "What a vile woman."
Sesshomaru didn't care so long as he got what he wanted in the end. The further they went into the castle the more undead appeared. As Jaken had said they all swarmed for Yuuki's first, paying them no mind. She was quick with her rosary, but Sesshomaru was undeniably faster. The second she would turn he would already be there with the undead on the floor. He glanced at her and she glared back. She couldn't allow him to have an upper hand. She couldn't fight him off from Naraku then fight Naraku himself. I just need to get home.
She's determined. While Sesshomaru looked for efficiency in slaying the scores of numbers, he found himself stopping short a couple times as her rosary cut him off. The holy whip would cut down the undead he aimed for and she would glance at him, his eyes narrowing. Between the two of them was a fire burning. I won't allow anyone to stand in my way of Naraku.
I can't let him win.
The two of them would continue on with Jaken trailing behind, sensing a problem brewing. How silly of me to request the help of a human girl, he thought despondently. Now he had only made his lord upset.
Sesshomaru glanced sideways at her. "How much further to the tower."
"I've had to do some backtracking," she replied just as curtly, making Jaken more nervous. "Let me get my bearings. It won't be much farther."
That being said, as more undead emerged she made a run for it, dodging past them and up a stairwell. "She's getting away!" Jaken shouted incredulously. Sesshomaru smiled slightly to himself and that made Jaken shiver in fright. As amusing as it was, she knew she couldn't get far. Still he deftly cut down the undead and soared up the stairs just to see her facing an open room of about twenty undead soldiers and servants.
She merely stood staring into the room while Sesshomaru dashed passed her, already beginning to mow them down. "Toki..." Amongst grown adults, the sole zombie child was shuffling along towards her ever so slowly. It choked Yuuki up. I knew she didn't make it, but still... To see a child's corpse used in such a way... her body was rotten and black, a faint red glow in the empty eye sockets. Sesshomaru blew past her, blowing her hair and she blinked.
Right as Jaken finally caught up to them, Yuuki panicked and ran off after Sesshomaru. "Wait!" He glided up to the young girl and raised his sword. "Stop-!" Jaken gaped as she grabbed onto the back of his kimono. He stopped and she heard the sword slice through flesh, the blood spraying across the floor. She froze, a stone dropping in her stomach. Sesshomaru glanced back at her as the body thudded on the floor. He then walked away, slipping from her hand, and stood away as she stared down at the young girl's body. Jaken approached next to Sesshomaru, watching as Yuuki went lax, staring down at Toki's body with a broken heart.
Yuuki dropped to her knees. "Dammit..." It was far too late, she already knew that. She withdrew the pinwheel from her skirt pocket and they watched as she set it on the girls chest, moving her hand over it to keep it in place. Like with the other corpses the souls floated up and disappeared.
Jaken decided to speak up, "You shouldn't fret so much, girl. Lord Sesshomaru did a service to the child." Yuuki lifted her head and stared at him confused. "Naraku's spell over these dead is nothing more than an animation curse. Slaying the vessels free the spirits. The child can lay at rest now thanks to him." Yuuki turned back to the girl's corpse, mourning for her loss. If only she had assured she escaped the castle. Jaken frowned and snapped, "Why are you making Lord Sesshomaru wait!?"
"Jaken."
"See!" Jaken looked up at his lord happily and asked, "What is it, Lord Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru glanced down at him and replied, "Leave the woman alone." Jaken backed down, refusing to question his lord.
"It's fine." She stood back up, holding her arm again. "We can't spend too long here." It was a shame. She felt as if all these dead deserved a moment, knowing there was pain and fear in their deaths.
Jaken sighed and said reluctantly, "Well, if you must then send them off with a prayer. Lord Sesshomaru is allowing you time after all."
Yuuki looked over at him and blinked. "A prayer?"
He blinked back. "Yes. You're a priestess, aren't you?"
Sesshomaru watched as she looked away to the wall thoughtfully. "I'm not sure. I suppose I am." It had never occurred to her that she had that capability. Only Miroku made farewell prayers.
"What do you mean you suppose!?" Jaken demanded as she walked off.
"You're from another Era." Yuuki stopped short and looked back at Sesshomaru wide eyed. He was one for few words it seemed, but the one time he does speak it caught her of guard.
"Yes, I assumed you were an acquaintance with that half breed Inuyasha and his priestess woman," Jaken chimed in and Yuuki was nearly knocked off her feet.
She turned to them in shock. "Wait, you know my friends?"
"Why are you so confused, stupid girl!?" Jaken shouted, hopping mad and offended. "Had they never mentioned the great Lord Sesshomaru!?"
Of course not, she sweat dropped. It was odd to her that they never once mentioned these two, at least Sesshomaru. Staring at him, she could only assume they weren't on good terms. Otherwise why wouldn't they ask for his help? He was powerful. Staring at Sesshomaru, she frowned. If they were on bad terms with him, however, then shouldn't that mean the same for her? "I don't know your connection to my friends, and I don't particularly care." She walked up to him and added, "I am from another time, but I was dragged here against my will. I need help getting home, and Naraku was the one to summon me. I need him to get back home."
Jaken peered up at her while Sesshomaru remained silent. Is she asking for my help? "It's a shame," Jaken commented and she glanced down at him. "Naraku is a wanted man. You have nothing to offer Lord Sesshomaru for his help, and we aim to kill him."
Yuuki's shoulders fell. "Yeah. That's what everyone wants." Giving up on the idea she walked on ahead for the next set of stairs.
The closer to the tower they were the less undead they came across. Yuuki assumed it was thanks to her friends already being here and clearing them out. When she stopped again, Jaken yelled at her, "Enough with the stopping!"
"We're here."
"Oh."
Jaken quieted down and Yuuki looked back at Sesshomaru again. I need his help. She couldn't just allow another opportunity to escape her again. If Sesshomaru went on and did what he wanted he could ruin her chance of going home. Even if he's on bad terms with my friends. Her hope riding on this, she walked back up to Sesshomaru, who merely stared at her and waited. "I know I don't have much to offer you, but if you help me force Naraku to send me back home, I can help you in defeating him."
"How dare you!?" Jaken shouted in a fit of rage, swinging his staff around. "I ought to burn you alive! How dare you a mere human girl assume the great Lord Sesshomaru needs help with-"
The rest of his rant was muffled by Yuuki's foot grinding his face into the floor. She glared at him, a tick mark throbbing on her head for a moment. Looking back up at Sesshomaru she sighed, "Please, I'm not looking to insult you. I know you're powerful, that's why I'm asking for your help."
Staring at her eyes for a moment, he could recognize a softness passed the striking color. "And how would you be able to assist me in any way," he asked. "You even have a wounded arm."
"You can't use brute strength to break his barrier," she replied, "and I promise it's stronger than the last time you've faced him." He narrowed his eyes. When his expression changed, she became slightly worried. "What is it?"
"You've faced Naraku before." She nodded. Looking away from her he explained, "There's a good chance Naraku is no longer at this castle, despite his scent being everywhere."
"Yes, maybe," she agreed, finally releasing Jaken from her foot. "I know he can be elusive, but there's also a chance he's still here." He looked back at her intrigued. Placing a hand on her chest she explained, "Naraku has plans for me. He's working with someone else that wants me, so I have a feeling he won't be far from me."
"Sounds like that feeling is wasted hope," Jaken grumbled as he dusted himself off.
"I'm desperate," she said finally. Yes, Sesshomaru could already tell that by the look in her eyes. "I'll make any deal I need to assure I get home."
"And how would you be able to help me defeat Naraku."
"I can break any barrier."
"What!?" Jaken yelled while Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.
Any barrier? "I've eaten a Megatama fruit from Mount Houoh," she went on, hoping it was impressive enough to earn his help. "I wield the Seishin and with it I've been able to master the ability to break any barrier, so you can have a clean shot at him."
Jaken hummed from the side and Yuuki swore to god, if he fucks up my chance I'm breaking his face on the ground. "A Megatama fruit, I've heard that's a challenge for humans. I guess that's impressive, however I've never heard of Seishin."
Ignoring him, she kept her eyes locked on Sesshomaru's. He then asked, "Assuming it goes according to your plan. How do you plan to convince Naraku to work with you in sending you home."
"I have my own bargaining chip."
"Oh that's promising," Jaken murmured sarcastically under his breath.
She tried to ignore him, but she bristled. "Fine, I plan on surrendering my powers to him." Now that she could break any barrier, she also had hope that he would accept her deal.
"Are you insane!?" Jaken snapped and she outright glared at him. More seriously he said, "A human of spiritual capabilities giving up their powers can be damaging. Not to mention if you give Naraku that kind of power there's no telling what he could do with it. You'll only make him more powerful!"
"You're right. However..." Looking back up at Sesshomaru, she smiled at him with a clever expression. "I'm sure whatever power Naraku gains, he'll still be no match for you, right?"
Watching his lord closely, Jaken damn near pissed himself when Sesshomaru smirked back at her. This wisteria woman is clever. Playing to Naraku's greed for power, as well as pandering to Sesshomaru's ego. He felt almost inclined to assist her, to see how far her plan would go for her. "We shall see."
Yuuki nodded, having no other choice but to accept that answer. As she walked away, Jaken paid close attention to his lord's face, watching as his eyes followed the girl. She's piqued my lord's interest. I've never seen this look before! As if hearing him, Sesshomaru frowned down at his servant and he bristled in fright. Having no words he kept his mouth shut and followed the girl.
Once Yuuki opened a heavy set of doors along the wall, she was greeted by everyone already there. Kagome lit up saying, "Yuuki, you're safe! Thank goodness," she sighed, pressing a hand to her heart.
Sesshomaru and Jaken stopped short of the door and Sesshomaru sniffed. Still, the wisteria woman's scent overrode everything else. He could sense Inuyasha was beyond the doors, however he could hardly smell him, or Naraku's scent, or the scent of the undead. Yuuki. He had wondered what her name was.
They stayed put and listened while Yuuki entered the room, Inuyasha commenting, "Took you long enough."
Sango gasped, "Yuuki, your arm!"
"It's fine," she assured, looking her arm over. "It looks worse than it is."
"Typical," Inuyasha huffed and Yuuki glared at him, a blush dusting her cheeks. "How'd you manage that, clutz?"
"It was thanks to an incarnation," she snapped back, bristling. "I got cornered while alone and he was fast, all right?"
While Kagome hurried over to start mending her arm, Sango said, "The undead stopped coming after us after a bit, we were all getting ready to search for you."
"That's an awful lot of blood, no wonder they stopped coming after us," Miroku commented, bringing a hand to his chin. "How were you able to escape the masses with that drawing them to you?"
"Well, actually," she blushed a bit again as Kagome wrapped her arm up in a fresh bandage. "I didn't exactly handle the incarnation on my own. I had help getting here." Though it was embarrassing to admit.
"Huh?" Kagome paused and looked up at her surprised. "Help?"
A better time than any. Sesshomaru came around the corner and entered the room. Yuuki glanced back as he walked up behind her with Jaken waddling up next to him. "Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha question in surprise, more stunned than anything. "What are you doing here?"
"More like what's he doing helping Yuuki," Sango mumbled and Miroku nodded in agreement.
Yuuki glanced around at her friend's wary expressions. "We helped each other," she explained, "while they helped me with the undead I was their guide here."
"You all better be grateful!" Jaken snapped at them. "If it weren't for Lord Sesshomaru she would have been consumed by those corpses!"
Kagome smiled at him, being the first to recover. "Thank you, Sesshomaru." He didn't pay her mind, merely look past them at the door.
Once Kagome quickly finished with Yuuki's arm, Yuuki asked, "So, what's the connection I'm missing?" Looking at Inuyasha, he was merely glaring Sesshomaru down with a look of hate.
Kagome sighed, looking back at Inuyasha as well. "Sesshomaru is Inuyasha's older brother."
Yuuki was shocked, "Seriously?" She knew there was a resemblance, but she didn't think it would be as close as family.
"They really don't get along," Shippo added. Sesshomaru could see he was nervous as well. They were all tense and uncomfortable at his presence, but the woman Yuuki seemed to be the only one unbothered. He looked down at her to see her stare at the glaring Inuyasha and then up at him, observing his features.
Sesshomaru walked by her and approached his hostile brother. "So, Inuyasha," Inuyasha glared up at him unhappily while everyone else was surprised. "This human woman is your friend?"
"What of it!?" He barked.
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, expecting that response. Still, he answered the question for him. "Jaken, we're leaving." He then walked passed them.
"Y-Yes, Lord Sesshomaru…" Yuuki looked down and watched as he nervously made his way through the group.
Inuyasha shouted after him, "You! Where are you going!?" Sesshomaru didn't bother to respond. "Hey! Wait a minute-!"
"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha was angry and confused at the fact Sesshomaru stopped and looked back at Yuuki. "Please, don't forget my deal?"
"Deal? What deal!?"
"Inuyasha," Miroku ushered him to quiet down.
Sesshomaru stared at her for a moment. "Woman, what is your name?"
Yuuki blinked. That's right, I didn't introduce myself. "My name is Fujiwara Yuuki."
A fitting name. Jaken stared up at him and asked, "Lord Sesshomaru…?" Sesshomaru ignored him along with her friends and continued on. He wasn't sure what possessed him to care enough to ask, but she was interesting.
Yuuki frowned after him when he disappeared. So, he and Inuyasha were brothers. Judging by the animosity between them, he might not help just out of spite. She blinked when Inuyasha marched into her view, "And what the hell was that," he asked, biting back his rage.
She sighed heavily. "I asked for his help, all right?"
"For his help!?" He yelled loud enough to blow her hair back. Yes, well, she supposed she had that coming.
"It's not like I knew you were brothers," she shot back in her defense.
Miroku slid up to the two of them and clapped his hands together. "Well, now that we're all here, let us get to Naraku before Sesshomaru does, shall we?"
"Oh fuck that!" Inuyasha shouted, whirling around. "I'll be damned if Sesshomaru gets to him first! I'm gonna destroy both of them!" He ran after Sesshomaru and the others quickly followed. In the next room he exclaimed, "Sesshomaru!"
The others filed in to see Sesshomaru and Jaken utterly surrounded by undead. "Look at all the corpses!" Kagome exclaimed. "There's so many of them!"
Taking a quick look around, the doors leading to the throne room broken down and the ceiling collapsed above them, Yuuki said, "Looks like it was an ambush." Inuyasha smirked at his older brother who glared back at him.
"We need to hurry while Sesshomaru is busy," Sango ushered as Sesshomaru began hacking at the bodies.
"Too bad for you, Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha called happily and he glanced at him. "We're going ahead!" He then led his group passed him and up the tower. Yuuki hesitated after them, watching as Sesshomaru cut the dead down. Sesshomaru looked over at her, and Inuyasha could be heard shouting, "Dammit, Yuuki, come on!" Dammit, she ran after them, leaving Sesshomaru behind.
"Damn that Inuyasha!" Jaken shouted.
"Jaken," He cut in before he went on a pointless rant. He then glanced back at him and said, "Make yourself useful."
"Uh- right!" Jaken readied himself as Sesshomaru resumed the tedious task of clearing out the samurai. "Behold! The power of the staff of two heads!" Jaken unleashed his flames on the corpses.
As they raced up the tower, Inuyasha was relentless with his grumblings. "Asking Sesshomaru for help, of all the- do you not believe in us or something? You think I can't handle Naraku on my own, is that it!?"
"Oh dear god," Yuuki said exasperated, running with Kagome in the rear. "I said sorry, all right!?"
"No you didn't!" He shouted back incredulously. "You didn't say sorry at all!"
"Well now I'm not going to!" She shouted back, her stubbornness leaking out. Sango, Miroku, and Shippo who was riding Miroku's shoulder were all tired of the arguing themselves. Yuuki looked to Kagome and asked, "I can see a sibling rivalry between that lousy dog and Sesshomaru, but what about you guys? No one seemed enthused to see him."
Kagome looked at her and replied, "Sesshomaru is known to be cold hearted and hates humans. He's obsessed with power and fought Inuyasha a few times to get his Tessaiga."
"Which he failed to do, by the way," Inuyasha added pointedly.
"Well no shit," Yuuki snapped back.
A tick mark sprung up on his head, but he ignored her. Kagome gained Yuuki's attention again and continued, "Sesshomaru can be cruel and seems to kill without remorse. We were surprised to see him work with a human so willingly, let alone save your life."
Yuuki hummed to herself. Is he really that bad? Remembering that smirk he had before, along with his interest in possibly helping her, she didn't think he was nearly that bad. Reaching the top they entered the room that they first found Naraku. "He's not here," Sango said.
Inside they were faced with an undead samurai in decorative armor. "It looks like it's just Yukimura," Kagome said sadly.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha glared around the room. "Where the hell could he have gone?"
As Yukimura approached them, Miroku was forced to lean away from him. "This demonic aura is strong. He's using Yukimura's corpse to control all the dead."
"So, if we release Yukimura from the spell, all the other corpses will be free?" Shippo questioned.
Kagome replied, "Yes. We have to set them free."
"Fine," Inuyasha drew his Tessaiga. "Wind Scar!" He used his attack, but a barrier protected Yukimura, causing the attack to destroy the room around him instead. "Dammit, Yuuki!" He called.
Yuuki folded her hands together around her rosary, her powers outlining her. Her clothes and hair lifted as the air waved and shifted around her. The translucent tendrils shot out when she shouted, "Spirit's Rage!" The energy could barely be seen wrapping around Yukimura's barrier, revealing it, and then crushing it in.
Kagome then knocked back an arrow and aimed it at Yukimura. "Yuuki!" Yuuki pulled out the talisman from her pocket and folded her hands around it. Her Seishin powers outlined her body and Kagome's arrow was enveloped in the same energy. "Hit the mark…!" She released and the arrow flew, her own powers warping around it in a pink aura. The arrow struck Yukimura in the heart and a force exploded in the room, knocking them all back.
Yuuki flew back and hit the wall, falling to the ground. She quickly shook her head and looked over at Yukimura along with the others. The demonic energy was disbanded and a light flew out from Yukimura's body before he dropped dead. Sango sighed saying, "He's free now."
"I've had about as much as I can take from that Naraku!" Shippo shouted, jumping to his feet.
From below, Sesshomaru could hear the commotion. He already heard their shouts of attacks, the castle shaking with the battle. Sesshomaru tried to sniff again, but only Yuuki's scent came to him. Why couldn't he smell anyone else? Was her scent truly that strong, or was he not focused enough? He made it to the top and Jaken was surprisingly not that far behind. He entered the room and glanced around, seeing that Naraku wasn't even present, but a dead samurai in his stead. Inuyasha and his companions were knocked to the ground as well. Inuyasha saw him and barked, "Sesshomaru-"
Miroku interrupted him, "Inuyasha! Look," he pointed across the room and Sesshomaru followed his aim, seeing the Saimyosho staring at them.
"Saimyosho," Sango glared. "They've been watching us, possibly this entire time!"
The Saimyosho turned and flew away. Sesshomaru ran after it across the room to the window where it flew out of. Jaken hurried over to his side and stared after it saying, "The Saimyosho is heading towards Ayame Village."
"Naraku isn't here, which means there no reason for us to be here," Sesshomaru said as he turned around and walked back across the room. "Let's go, Jaken."
"Okay, Lord Sesshomaru," Jaken said as he hurried after his lord.
Yuuki remained on the ground, glancing up at Sesshomaru as he passed. He glanced back at her, but she looked away in defeat. So much for getting his help. Now would have been the ideal time, but Naraku wasn't here. Sesshomaru left and Jaken was following behind, but he stopped next to Yuuki. "Girl," she looked at him. He spoke quietly, "My lord isn't much for words, but as his servant it's my duty to know his thoughts and feelings. I don't know what's interesting about you, but if you encounter Lord Sesshomaru again, he may be inclined to help."
Yuuki was surprised, but before she could say anything he hurried off. I have a bad habit of feeling hopeful.
"So Sesshomaru is after Naraku, too," Kagome confirmed as they all stood back up, staring after them. "I wonder why?"
"Does it matter?" Inuyasha questioned and they turned to him. "Sesshomaru's of no consequence to us. We just need to get to Naraku first."
Sango then spoke up, "I don't believe Ayame Village is too far away. It's just south of here."
"Then let's get moving," Inuyasha said and then ran out of the room, the rest of them quickly following.
