Guess who's back back back, back again gain gain! Enjoy the chapter Ill apologize later.
The inside of Sesshomaru's castle was exactly as Inuyasha predicted it to be. There were countless artifacts and weapons decorating almost every inch if the place. The most disturbing part however, were the paintings. Every single hallway had at least a single grotesque painting depicting a war, whether it was demon vs demon, human vs demon, or even human vs human. He followed him past what seemed to be the hundredth painting of a man disemboweled by a grinning demon, before they finally arrived at their destination. Inuyasha had never seen so many scrolls in one room, and from the potent smell of old paper in the air, some of these had to be very valuable. Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru lightly skimmed a hand over one of the shelves until he picked out a scroll and rolled it out on the table.
"Most of the ingredients I have here in the castle, however there are two I do not." Sesshomaru explained. Inuyasha tried to read the writing on the scroll but it was too finely written, nothing like what he was used to with Kagome's writing.
"Where can I find the other two ingredients?" Sesshomaru pointed at a picture of a finely drawn flower pure white in color. It was drawn with so much detail Inuyasha would have no trouble spotting in in person.
"The Kiyome flower can be found at the tops of the mountains behind the castle. However it has the power to purify whatever it comes into contact with so you must only grab it by the stem." Sesshomaru slid his finger over to a picture of what looked like an old man. "The demon Hakai will be a bit harder to find. It lives somewhere in the swamps to the east of the castle. Wherever he lies there is sure to be a great deal of miasma surrounding the area. The miasma his body protrudes cannot be purified by any means, and it is this that you must expose the petals of the flower to."
Inuyasha looked at the picture of the old man, he didn't look like much. "If you've killed the demon before than how can he still be alive now?"
"The demon cannot truly be slain. No matter how many times he is defeated he will eventually return to him home in the bottom of the swamp and continue his existence."
"Okay so pick a flower, kill this Hakai demon and expose to flower to its miasma, then come back. Doesn't seem too hard." Sesshomaru rolled the scroll up and tucked it under his arm. Then he tossed Inuyasha a small pouch.
"For the flower. Everything else I will have ready by the time you return." The looked at each other before Sesshomaru nodded and dismissed his brother.
The mountain that Sesshomaru's castle was built against was actually the beginning of the dozens that lay behind his house, and as far as Inuyasha knew any one of them could have the flowers on top. Hoping he was right he chose the closest mountain and behind to climb to the top. It took him about an hour before he started to see the snow the peaked the mountain and another half hour to actually reach it. Compared to the spring like weather below, the top was a frozen wasteland with not a single flower to be seen. He shifted through the waist high snow looking for the plant. 'How am I supposed to find a stupid white flower when I can't see, hear, or *achoo* smell a damned thing' He lost his footing somewhere in the deep snow and slipped face first into the cold wet snow. A string of profanities left his mouth as he raised his head, but something caught his eye before he could fully get up. Standing up they would have been almost impossible to spot with the snow blowing around so viciously, but from this angle he could see the flowers blowing in the wind. They were pure white from root to petal, and the closer he got the more he realized they didn't seem to have a scent. He almost reached out to stroke the waxy looking petals, when he remembered Sesshomaru's warning and drew his hand back. Instead he reached for the stem and pulled the flower from its roots carefully placing it in the pouch his brother had given him. He pulled the string closed and placed the bag into his top. 'And now for Hakai.'
The demon was indeed a lot harder to find since "to the east" was as vague as directions got. Luckily there weren't many swamp lands in the area. There was a village nearby and thanks to an old man who wasn't afraid of his ears, he had directions to a specific swamp known to be surrounded in poisonous gas. It wasn't very far, maybe a half day's run from Sesshomaru's castle, but soon the forest started thinning and the ground turned soft under his feet. He didn't realize the miasma growing thicker until he brought his sleeve up to his nose to stop the burning. He unsheathed his sword and advanced into the ever growing miasma. With his eyes blurry he almost walked right into the murky water of a large lake. It was impossible to see the bottom, and the water rippled with whatever swam underneath. He was just thinking about whether or not he should walk around the huge lake, when the surface started to bubble, and soon the whole lake was sloshing wildly. The lake seemed to explode sending mucky water in every direction. When the water finally settled there was an old man standing in the center on a large flat rock. Saying the man was old was an understatement, the man looked ancient. The only visible parts of his face were his color changing eyes surrounded by layers of crow's feet. The rest of his face was covered in filthy white hair covered in various green lake life. Inuyasha watched as his eyes shifted from green to a royal purple.
"Hmm I see you're back Sesshomaru. What killing me once wasn't good enough for you eh?" The old man picked out a single piece of algae from his beard and tossed it into the lake, although there was plenty more where that came from.
"Don't confuse me for my brother old man. However I'm guessing you're the demon Hakai, right?" Inuyasha watched as the old man's eyes changed from purple to a sickly yellow. Then he took a breath inhaling deep from the nose that was somewhere lost in his beard. He sneezed once and wiped it on the sleeve of the rags he wore.
"Ah you're right, I may not see as well as I used to, but I can still pick up the scent of a half demon Inuyasha," Hakai sat down on the flat rock he stood on and began picking things from his beard. "I remember very well when your father fell in love with that mortal woman, you almost look just like him you know. Last I heard you were dead but seems someone was wrong." He picked something that looked like a bug from his beard, before popping it into his mouth.
"I didn't come here to talk about my father," he gripped his sword tighter and pointed it toward the old man. "Don't take it personally but I've come for your blood."
"Oh I know why you're here, the same reason everyone comes looking for me," The old man rose slowly straightening out the rags he wore. "But before you swing that sword you should know it not my blood you're after." His eyes shifted again, this time into a blood red and he smiled showing his missing front teeth, before the lake before the lake started to convulse again sending water sloshing everywhere. The rock Hakai stood on started to grow, until the head of a snake the size of a dragon emerged. The snakes eyes mirrored the old mans, and Inuyasha watched as they both shifted from red to yellow, then back to red. "If you want the miasma then go ahead dog demon, take it!"
The snake was fast. It lunged at Inuyasha and struck the ground beneath his as he leapt out of the way. Before he could land safely the snake's tail lashed out and slammed him into the lake. Out of all the disgusting places he had been this one by far topped the list. There wasn't a single part of him that didn't feel like it was covered in sludge. He came up sputtering to the surface only to find the lake empty, Hakai and his snake nowhere in sight. There was no trying to smell them out, his nose was numbed by the miasma in the air. With tetsuiga still in hand he began swimming toward the shore. There was no warning this time as the snake erupted from the surface inches before him. Beneath the water he could feel the rough texture of its tail slowly wrapping itself around his leg.
"Oh no you don't." It was a mundane attack, but the snake was close enough for Inuyasha to punch it in one of its eyes. It howled and arched its head back, releasing its hold on Inuyasha's leg. Quickly he grabbed onto its side and hoisted himself out of the water, then he leaped into the air gaining some distance between them. "ADAMANT BARRAGE!" He watched as the chucks of diamond sailed towards the still recovering snake, but his hopes were shattered as they crumbled against the snake's stone like skin.
"You're going to have to do better than that if you want to get past her skin boy. Much, much better." Hakai teased from his perch atop the snake. The snake hissed angrily fully recovered now, and watched as Inuyasha fell downward with nothing but water beneath him. He landed with a splash into the cold water, but this time the snake didn't hesitate as it dove after him. Swinging tetsuiga under water was useless as it landed soft blows against the iron like skin. This time the snake used its upper body to constrict around Inuyasha, subduing him underwater and making him drop his sword. Even through the sloshing water he could still hear Hakai's words loud and clear.
"Is that really all you have to offer half demon? Both your father and brother could defeat us with ease," He stopped as the snake's grip became tighter, squeezing the air from his lungs. "And to think that poor girl is probably going to die in Naraku's hands, all because you couldn't keep a promise."
That's right he had promised to protect her no matter what, and it wasn't a promise he wanted to break again. Images of the arrows covered in her blood flashed through his mind along with her parting words back at the village. She was waiting for him to find her, and he'd be damned if he let some soggy old man get in the way of that. Suddenly the snake wasn't that strong and he found himself pushing away the massive beast. When there was enough space he slipped through and clawed his way to the surface, lungs screaming for air. He broke through and inhaled the miasma filled air before locking gazes with the old man. "Hmm what's this? Don't tell me you think going full demon will help." Both Hakai and the snake's eyes changed from green to blue as they observed him.
Inuyasha had barely heard him. He knew he was a full demon, he could feel his canines stab at his lip, but he didn't want to be. Already he could feel his senses being muddled with the overwhelming urge to kill. He leaped out of the water and used his elongated claws to latch on to the side of the serpent. It writhed trying to shake him loose but he hung on tight. Even with the snake shaking he was still able to climb higher until he launched himself upward landing on the flat surface next to Hakai. He didn't hesitate as he slugged him across the jaw feeling the bone crunch under his fist. The little man flew backward almost sliding off the snake, but Inuyasha wasn't done. He followed him snarling as he lifted the old man by the rags he wore.
"Get on with it, kill me the way you are," His words slurred with his broken jaw. "I bet you don't even remember why you're doing this." This time his eyes changed to a familiar soft brown as he stared at Inuyasha.
'Why was he doing this? Because he wanted to, because he wanted nothing more than to feel the old man's blood as he shoved his claws through his heart, because…because…' Somewhere in the back of his mind he remembered someone with the same shade of soft brown eyes. Someone who had beautiful black hair and a scent that made him happy. He lifted Hakia higher and snarled, but it was halfhearted. Something about the hazy memory was stopping him from tearing the old man's throat out.
"If only she could see you now. What would she think of you Inuyasha?" Hakai's eyes changed again to a strong orange before settling on a venom green.
'What would who think?' Why would he care what anyone thought of him, he just wanted to kill things! But the thought sent a new image through his head. One of a girl with big brown eyes looking…sad. He dropped Hakai and grabbed his head trying to sort through the emotions tearing through him. "K-Kagome." Slowly he could feel his fangs and claws retracting to their normal size.
"That's right Kagome. Waiting for you on her hands and knees while Naruku tortures her in your name." Hakai spoke clearly now as if his jaw had healed. Now Inuyasha remembered. He was fighting to get the miasma to save Kagome's life. He rose thinking more clearly now and advanced towards Hakai. "I see you've regained yourself, that's good half breed. Too bad it was all for naught." The snake shot its head sending both Hakai and Inuyasha flying off towards the water. The snake's tail show out and caught Hakai, but Inuyasha was left falling towards the lake. This time when he splashed he swam downward through the murky water. Behind him he could feel the snake closing in quickly. He couldn't see tetsuiga but he could feel how close he was to his sword, he reached out to grab it at the same time he felt the snakes mouth clamp onto his leg with a sickening crunch. The snake drew back with Inuyasha still in its teeth until it broke the surface, then it flung him upward. Inuyasha only saw a flash of gold eyes before the snake darted forward and caught him in midair, swallowing him whole.
"There, there Yūjin was he tasty?" The snaked hissed and flicked its tongue. "Would you like to eat some more before resting?" Hakai patted the snake's head affectionately. When it didn't reply he glimpsed down noticing a twitching near its stomach. "Yūjin?" The snake began to hack trying to dislodge something from its throat. Suddenly a blade pierced through then sliced sideways cutting the snake's throat. Hakai watched in horror as the snake's head was lopped off, then put his own hand to his throat feeling the skin begin to tear. Inuyasha climbed out of the snake's throat covered in spit, but no blood. He made his way over to where both the snake's head and Hakai lay. From the old man's neck sprung a black miasma even more potent smelling then the one surrounding him. Inuyasha removed the flower from its pouch carefully by the stem, where it was still in one piece, and placed the petals into the smoke. The flower shimmered, attempting to purify the miasma, but it stayed strong. But instead of killing the flower the smoke seemed to be absorbed turning the pure white petals black. He carefully placed the flower back in its pouch. Just a quick trip back to Sesshomaru's and this would all be over.
The trip from the woods to Kouga's had only taken a couple of hours, but Kagome didn't get back until after sundown. She was about to head over to her campsite, but the bees led her further to the castle. Kanaa was waiting for her at the doorway and headed inside motioning for her to follow. They didn't head towards the stairs, instead heading further into the castle until they arrived at a large room. Naraku was sitting in a tall chair alone, and behind him lay three jars with hearts inside. Kagome heard when Kanaa slipped out leaving the two of them alone.
"Did you really think you could just leave?" His voice sounded calm but his eyes said otherwise.
"I didn't leave, I was dragged away. I came back didn't I?"
"Where did the wolf cub take you?" She knew he would try to figure out where the den was but she was prepared. She didn't miss the way his eyes traveled over her new clothes.
"He wanted me to come with him to his pack, but I refused and he gave me these clothes instead and I came back." She could tell he didn't believe her but he didn't push further.
"Do you know what tomorrow is?" He reached into his shirt and pulled out a small silver flask. "As soon as the sun rises it will be a month since the first antidote was administered. After tomorrow it will slowly start to fade, until it is gone and the poison takes affect again."
Frantically she thought back to how long she had been here to confirm it had indeed been a month. She watched him twirl the flash tauntingly. "Are you going to give it to me?" He gazed at her for a while without saying anything. "Do you remember our deal Naraku?" he raised a brow as she glared at him. "Our deal was I give you my heart, submit to you and accept the jewel," She pointed at the jars behind him. "One of those has my heart, there's a jewel in my forehead, and I'm here aren't I?"
"But you have yet to submit to me." Behind him his tentacles writhed. At first he had absolutely no intention of using her body, but when she reacted so harshly in the village he understood. If she was impure then Inuyasha wouldn't want her, and she would be too ashamed to crawl back to him. One of his tentacles slithered across the floor stroking her leg.
"No," She pulled back as what he was implying finally dawned on her. "I would never, ever do that with you." In an instant her tessen was out and she brought it down severing the tentacle. It was replaced with three more that bound her round her waist and lifted her up high. They didn't make any other movements but hold her there, suspended. As much as the idea repulsed him, it was the only sure way he could think of to keep the two of them apart. Just then another idea dawned on him and he dropped Kagome while tucking the vial back into his shirt.
"When you realize how much your dear Inuyasha means to you, I'll be waiting." Her tessen disappeared and she left the room, heading straight outside. 'How dare he ask something like that?!' She didn't realize she was pacing back and forth and snarling steps away from the castle. There was no way she would ever willingly go back in there unless to rip his head from his shoulders. But still after tomorrow the poison would kick in again and as of right now she had no way of stopping it. She stopped her pacing and stared at the castle. This was the ultimate decision of whose life meant more to her, Inuyasha's or her own. She owed him her life plenty of times from the many times he had saved her, but what Naraku was asking her was her ultimate price, something she was saving for her future. But she didn't really want a future if Inuyasha wasn't a part of it. She snarled listening to it as it bounced off the trees. Even If she were to give in to Naraku there was no way Inuyasha would take her being impure, and there was no way she could ask him to. It was still dark out but she could swear she saw the sky lightening a little in the east. That meant she had a full day to decide what to do, unless…Suddenly she thought of a third option. If she left now, than maybe. She wasn't in front of the castle anymore, instead she was running full speed through the woods towards the one person who could possible still help her.
So its been a while, little over a year to be exact. I won't give you a sob story, but other authors know that sometimes life gets in the way, I'm a college student now and that comes first. But the good news is I'm on summer break and I finally finished writing the story so odds are there's two or three more chapters to go. I won't ask for forgiveness, but I hope that some of the old and even some new readers enjoy this chapter and i promise to never take a year to update this story again. My sailor moon story on the other hand i need to get to eventually. so review or dont review its cool this time i need to earn you guys back somehow right? as always ta-ta for now -Miss. Tury ;)