CH09: Rebellion

"Okay." Sango said and grabbed her weapon. Unlike the others she had no qualms about killing the director, especially if he had even the slightest role in the death of her brother. She would have revenge or die trying. They headed down the halls towards the elevators. Those who saw them looked nervous. Some stood aside to allow them to pass by; others placed their hands on their weapons and gave them looks daring them to start anything. A few, though certainly not many gave them inconspicuous nods of encouragement, but none seemed ready to openly support them.

When the doors to the elevator opened to the outside world, they saw that things had changed. There was now a stage that showcased some of the rubble and a podium. Surrounding this were demon puppets which also lined the edges of the crowd that had formed. There were several chairs on the stage and right behind the podium was an empty spot that was surely where the prisoner would be executed.

Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Kagome, and Shippo chose a spot inconspicuously near the aisle created by the demon puppets and close enough that they were within range for both Sango and Kagome to attack if... when it came to that. Inuyasha noticed that many people seemed to draw away from them, seeking less dangerous seats, while some others moved closer, some were friends, others baring their fangs and hoping that he would make a move.

"Touch her and you're the first to die." Inuyasha growled as a slightly limping Koga stood almost stoically next to Kagome.

"Hey, someone has to protect her while you put her in danger." Koga said, "And when you get yourself killed..." He winked at Kagome.

"Sango and Miroku can protect her." Inuyasha said, "And if they need help, I'll be there."

"You know Koga, he is right, Kagome is obviously too much of a distraction for you." The wolf demon was knocked to the ground by a swift punch by Ayame to the back of his head. "I'll help protect Kagome, and Koga can protect me."

"Thanks, Ayame." Kagome smiled.

"And Shippo can protect me!" Rin said, pushing her way through the crowd. She carried a heavy looking cloth-wrapped package.

"Hey I never agreed to that!" Shippo complained, "I want to protect Kagome too!"

"It's okay Shippo. Just keep close by me and we can protect each other."

"But she's dangerous."

"I can't fight at all." Rin laughed, "Lord Sesshomaru would never allow it. It would be an insult to his ability to protect me."

"See Shippo." Kagome said, "She is a little strange, but she is not dangerous."

"Can't you smell it? This Sesshomaru guy must be strong." Shippo ran around in a circle as Rin tried to catch him.

"He is not going to hurt you for protecting Rin."

"He'll kill me if I touch her." Shippo cried.

"That means..." Kagome thought about the way Inuyasha acted around her. There was no doubt that without the Tetsusaiga, Sesshomaru would come out of any fight with Inuyasha without a scratch on him. Shippo was very attached to her and didn't fear Inuyasha thanks to Inuyasha's soft side and her sit commands. "Rin can I see you neck for a minute."

"You want to see Lord Sesshomaru's mark?" Rin asked, "It's really pretty." She pulled down her collar and pulled back her hair, revealing it. Two perfectly round scars had a dull silver sheen. Each was surrounded by a blue crescent moon like the one that appeared on Sesshomaru's own forehead. Above and below each moon was a purple claw-shaped marking. "It's not very big cause I'm not old enough to get marked properly."

"That is really beautiful." Her own mark had a little bit of purple around the edges, but she had assumed it was just bruising. "I never knew about the tattoos that come with it."

Rin said, "They know who we belong to by the color and shape of the marks, and how strong our mate is by the size of the mark."

"Kagome's mark barely has any markings at all." Shippo announced, "You have to look really hard to tell they are there."

"I'm a half demon." Inuyasha growled, "It's not the same for me."

"Sesshomaru was surprised he was able to mark her at all, especially since hers is not a real marking yet either. The real one will probably show up much better. Lord Sesshomaru sys that mine will reach from my elbow to my chin to my hip. I can't wait to see what it looks like."

"Sesshomaru has markings like his mark on him, but Inuyasha doesn't have any marks that I've seen. I wonder what his will look like."

"He's coming." Rin said, touching her own mark. Moments later, a group of demon puppets exited the elevator. They carried Sesshomaru who was immobilized by the tentacles that held his limbs and wrapped around his torso. Even being carried as a prisoner, Sesshomaru stood tall and kept his regal air about him. Kagome picked Rin up so that she could see over the crowd. She waved and called out to him. He didn't even turn his head. Following this came the division heads, including Kaede, and Bankotsu, who, despite his age, still carried Banryu as if it were as light as a feather. Banryu was the only division head who still went out on missions and was considered one of the best fighters in the entire organization.

A dark mist began to flow from the elevator. It spread out along the ground. Shippo and Rin began to cough.

"A demonic miasma, don't breathe it in." Miroku warned. Kagome picked up Rin and Shippo. More demon puppets exited the elevator. Then came three people. In the center was a man they had never seen before, but his visage was no stranger to them. It was the same face that stared at them from every one of the demon puppets. His dark garb, his cold, calculating glare and his long dark wavy hair were made all the more sinister by the self-satisfied smirk that curled the corner of his lip. On his left was a figure they all knew all too well.

"Kagura." Miroku clenched his cursed hand.

"And Kanna is there as well."

"Who is that behind them?"

"It can't be!" Sango gasped. Guarding the one whom they now knew must be Naraku was none other than Sango's little brother Kohaku. "Kohaku!" He didn't even look their way. His eyes stared blankly ahead, ignoring Sango's calls. "What has Naraku done to him?"

"Whatever it is, we'll fix it. He won't get away with this." Miroku comforted her.

Naraku stepped onto the stage where the division heads had already taken their seats. "I am Director Onigumo." He started. "A few nights ago we suffered an attack that nearly destroyed the base. Thanks to the quick thinking and bravery many of you showed, we somehow managed to survive despite the overwhelming odds. I congratulate you on this victory, but one thing has troubled me since the attack. Why did the alarms not go off the moment a single unauthorized demon stepped foot upon the base and could only come to one conclusion: There is a traitor among us." Naraku paused dramatically, "I of course did not want to start a witch hunt that would turn you against each other. I had my own suspicions, but little did I know that they would be confirmed so quickly. You see before you the traitor." He waved his hand in the direction of Sesshomaru who smirked. "He who just last night infiltrated the base once again and attempted to slay me in my own office." Murmurs spread throughout the crowd.

"Fools." Sesshomaru derided the crowd, "To listen to such filth is below this Sesshomaru. Even the idlest brain who has studied demons knows that dog demons are loyal to a fault. It would take an equal betrayal to drive me to slaughter the leader of those I am sworn to serve even should my life be required."

"Silence, traitor!" Naraku glared at Sesshomaru, but already the experts in the various demonic fields murmured in agreement with Sesshomaru.

"You on the other hand are the failed result of the Hanyou Project. The project that was created 50 years ago in an effort to create more controllable soldiers. It is an effort that was a failure until this Sesshomaru's own blood was used to create the first and only successful half demon soldier: Inuyasha."

"Lies!" Onigumo said icily.

"Do you not remember? Onigumo the lab technician who took hold of the tainted jewel who coveted its power. You who opened the gates and released the demonic scourge upon the land. You who plays with the lives of others to reap joy in their suffering. You whose demonic incarnation threatened my mate!' He finished with a scream of rage as he tore free from the restraining tentacles. His poison claws were halted just short of Naraku's chest and he was rebound even more securely than before. Every demon soldier now talked loudly. Each one knew the danger of insulting or threatening another's mate. None would fault Sesshomaru for his anger. The crowd who had been mostly in favor of the director at the beginning now shifted to an almost equal groups of those in favor of Sesshomaru, those in favor of Onigumo and those who did not know who to believe in.

"Of course there have been plots against me before. And there is only one way to deal with disloyal soldiers. That is to say, the disloyal soldier must be executed... All of them." He turned his eyes towards Inuyasha. "Especially those who would openly oppose this organization."

"Are you finished yet?" Inuyasha yelled out over the crowd. "I want to get this execution over with." He drew his sword, "Or shall I tell them the full extent of the traitor's treachery, Onigumo 'sir', Or perhaps I should just call you Naraku, after all that is the name you took for yourself 50 years ago isn't it, the same one by which you control your demonic minions like the wind bitch who sits beside you now. She slaughtered the wolf tribe. She led your demonic army into battle that night and both of you threatened my mate!" Inuyasha leapt over the crowd and into the aisle, swinging his sword to slice off the tentacles that attempted to stop him.

"Stop him! He and his friends are all traitors!" The demon puppets attacked fiercely, but most of the other soldiers hesitated.

Inuyasha leapt onto the stage and advanced on Naraku. "It's time to teach you a lesson. You can't underestimate me. Look at Sesshomaru. His arm is gone because he underestimated me the night that the base was attacked. He wasn't even here."

"You can't be underestimated. A filthy half demon like you is worthless." He pulled out a small controller, one that Inuyasha was very familiar with.

"What's wrong? Afraid to face me now."

"No. You're not worth my time. But I'll give you a chance. Slay your brother and live."

"I have a better idea; I'll cut you up before you get a chance to push that button!" Inuyasha swung his sword. Naraku pressed the button. Not only was Naraku cleaved in two but the Tetsusaiga unleashed its devastating attack sending waves of demonic energy out destroying every demon puppet on the stage, releasing Sesshomaru. A great cloud of miasma exploded from Naraku's body. Suddenly everyone started moving at once, some attacking the demon puppets, others defending them. Inuyasha screamed in pain. Tentacles and various other demon appendages had appeared out of the poison cloud, biting and clawing, and impaling him all over. His sword fell to the ground and he was lifted into the air.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed! Naraku wasn't dead. The bottom half of his body was gone but it had been replaced by the demonic appendages that grew out of him.

"Go ahead and try to kill me." Naraku laughed maniacally, "I am immortal! I am not a failure; I am more powerful than any full demon!" More of his tentacles attacked Sesshomaru who fought them off valiantly, but each one that was severed was immediately replaced by another.

"Lord Sesshomaru!"

"Rin! Wait!" The two kids dodged around the fighting adults. "Kagome said we should stay near her!"

"I've got to get to Lord Sesshomaru!" She still held the heavy bundle in her arms.

"Die Naraku!" Kagome yelled as she prepared to let fly an arrow. Ayame bumped into her as another soldier attacked and Kagome's aim was knocked off course and her arrow instead struck another demon that was destroyed by the purifying energy.

"Kohaku!" Sango broke through the crowd to the stage and ran towards her brother.

"Traitor." Kohaku said emotionlessly before throwing his weapon and spearing Sango's side with the blade.

"Sango!" Miroku struck aside friends and foes alike in an attempt to get to his beloved wife.

"Don't struggle monk, there's nothing you can do but watch her die!" Kagura laughed as she attacked from above.

An ear shattering scream halted the violence for a moment. "Inuyasha!" Kagome was holding her mark, but the markings had spread to the point that she had a pattern of jagged purple lines running across her face and down to her finger tips. A man raised his weapon to strike her down.

"Don't touch her!" Inuyasha roared. His claws, now longer, shredded Naraku's tentacles as if Inuyasha was not injured at all. He raced across the battlefield, ripping apart any who blocked his path. Except for the glowing blue pupils, his eyes had gone the color of blood. His fangs were bared menacingly as he created a trail of blood straight to the man who had been about to strike Kagome. Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed the man by the throat and began to squeeze. His claws dug into the man's throat, spurting blood over the fearful onlookers. The man screamed, and then was silent. There was a crack and the man's head popped right off. Then he laughed. "Who's next?" Even Koga backed away. No one wanted to fight such a ruthless enemy.

"Inuyasha... Please stop."

'Shut up you stupid bitch!' He hadn't spoken a word but Kagome had heard it in her head and seen that he had meant it.

"Inu... yasha..." Her voice wavered. He glared at her. "Sit!" The beads yanked down on his neck but he braced himself and they failed to subjugate him.

"You will be sorry you tried that." He growled as he raised his fist and struck Kagome, sending her flying backwards.

"How dare you!" Koga leapt forward and struck Inuyasha in the face. "You stupid mutt! No one strikes my Kagome!" He said, hitting Inuyasha with each word.

"Is that all you have?" Inuyasha grabbed Koga's wrist, twisting until it snapped. "Don't tell me how to treat my mate. She belongs to me!"

"Not yet she doesn't." Koga whimpered, "You were never demon enough to take her."

"We will see about that." Inuyasha growled. He tossed Koga aside and leapt towards Kagome.

"SIT!" Kagome screamed, "SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT! SIT!!" Without his legs under him, Inuyasha was slammed deep into the ground. "Inuyasha..?" Kagome raced over to his unmoving form as her mark began to fade back to its original size. He lay in the hole with his blood pooling around him. "INUYASHAA!"

"Lord Sesshomaru!"

"Get back Rin!" Sesshomaru ordered.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Catch!"

"What is this?" Sesshomaru asked, leaping away from one of Naraku's strikes.

"Master Jaken had it made after Inuyasha stole the Tetsusaiga. It is a blade that should be worthy of you." Sesshomaru slashed the containing fabric and the sword inside emitted a terrible demonic aura.

"This is acceptable." He said, slashing at the tentacles. The demonic energy of the sword sent out waves of malicious demonic energy. "Dragon Strike!" All of Naraku's tentacles were severed in a single blow.

"Allow me." Bankotsu rose from his chair and stood as a barrier between Sesshomaru and Naraku.

"Yes, Bankotsu, kill!" Naraku laughed.

"I have waited for so long to hear that order." Bankotsu said with a bloodthirsty smile. He began to twirl Banryu over his head like a baton, and then he struck... backwards, right through Naraku's heart. Then, he brought his blade forward and sent a ball of demonic energy at Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru tried to block it but was pushed backwards before he could deflect it. "Naraku was much too easy; I hope you're more of a challenge!"

"You will die." Sesshomaru said confidently.