All rights to Inuyasha reserved by Rumiko Takahashi
Snow no longer fell from the sky. Winter was still upon Japan but the Northern lands felt none of it. If anything it felt like summer.
There was an unreal heat to the area, something unnatural. If one but looked over the mountains to the south clouds pouring snow could be seen in the distance.
The ground was completely clear of ice and snow revealing pools of melted water, unhealthy grass, and trees that had lost their leaves weeks ago. More and more the area began to look like a hellish swamp than a forest.
Sesshomaru took little notice of his surroundings until…
"Getting a little hot around her isn't it." The voice was calm and collected much like Sesshomaru's used to be. It was male but slightly effeminate with an accent that made it obviously apparent that Japanese was not his native tongue. The voice itself was emanating from thin air. "Feels almost like home really."
Sesshomaru's party stopped just far enough away as to hear the conversation. Obviously they were still wary of Sesshomaru's temper.
"I seem to be collecting old faces today. Perhaps you could be as kind as to show yours Corran." Sesshomaru faced the tree immediately to his left.
The tree instantly disappeared leaving only a black haired man with opulent looking western clothes. His eyes were green and his skin was a pasty white. All in all he looked amazingly human…if you didn't count the fact that everywhere he stepped grass died. "I never could sneak up on you."
Sesshomaru held no fondness for this creature. Sesshomaru was not a man of prejudice but he held a firm belief that there were some people you just couldn't trust. "You're out of your territory. I wonder what you're superiors would think."
Corran smiled and began to slowly circle Sesshomaru. "I'm not here on business, more like pleasure. You see I've got some information you might find useful Sesshomaru."
Sesshomaru kept his eye on Corran as the creature circled him. "And what reason could you possibly have to give me information?"
"Oh, there is a matter of a debt that I owe you."
"Surely you can't be serious."
Corran's smile deepened. "I'm very serious, and don't call me Shirley." There was a long pause where after Sesshomaru's left eyebrow raised slightly and Corran's smile dropped a little. "I suppose that would have been much funnier if we were talking in English. Then again your sense of humor is shot now days isn't it."
"Your debt to me is worth far more than a little information."
Corran's smile returned and dropped before he could even finish his sentence. "I think you'll be very-." The creature looked over his shoulder awkwardly surveying the company Sesshomaru kept. "What are you running an orphanage?"
Sesshomaru, who was not only becoming more curious but also uncomfortable with Corran looking at Rin gave the creature a little more incentive. "Unless you have something to say I suggest you get out of my sight."
"Oh, I do. In fact what I'm about to tell you might just make your day."
Sesshomaru remained silent. He was quickly losing his patience; although he had nowhere in particular to go he most certainly would be getting there faster if not for Corran's tedious dramatic buildup.
"An old friend of yours is coming back. He made a deal with the big man."
Sesshomaru's mind suddenly cleared. If he was talking about… "Who exactly is coming back?"
"I think you know who it is. And I think you'll agree that he should not have another chance to find a particular item."
Sesshomaru's heart raced. Energy that he thought lost forever came flooding back to him. That fool's last death was far too peaceful. It had been centuries since a singular promise had been made. Sesshomaru had promised to make that man suffer just as he had suffered at his hands.
Sesshomaru's veins pumped pure hatred once more.
Corran's smile deepened. "You've got that look in your eye. Ah yes, I can feel your hatred like a cool spring breeze."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know. But I do know where one of his minions is."
For one reason or another Sesshomaru's ears unfocused and heard something all too familiar. He heard the sounds of an army marching.
"Which one?"
"The general. And he's bringing some friends." Corran reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vile. "If that hasn't made your day then this should."
The second Corran opened the vile the fleshy stump that was Sesshomaru's left arm began to tingle. There was a flash of light and suddenly it was as if his arm had always been there.
Sesshomaru raised his new left hand so he could see it. "I didn't ask for a new arm."
"No, but you're going to need it." Corran held up his hand letting a blue ethereal fire rise into the air. From it a shining long sword formed. Grasping the sword he tossed it to Sesshomaru. "Now we're even." With that Corran turned to face the mountains. As he did so black wings sprouted from his back. "Try not to die anytime soon Sesshomaru. It would so boring around here without you."
Watching as Corran flew south Sesshomaru couldn't help but wonder what Corran was getting out of helping him.
The advancing army was now in view. They stormed through the trees like a flood of steel and flesh. Sesshomaru turned to Kohaku. "Get Rin and the others to the high ground."
Kohaku, still shaken by the strange occurrences of the day, looked upon the army of monsters and hesitated only momentarily. Regaining his composure he grabbed Ah Un by the reigns and began to run uphill. Rin held onto Ah Un for dear life and Jaken ran as fast as he could to keep up.
Sesshomaru ignored his retreating party and focused on the army. The forest would not allow them to form any kind of rank. They would have to come at him one by one if he positioned himself correctly.
The red skin and large fangs coupled with their rusted and jagged armor made these demons intimidating to any who had never seen real combat before. Sesshomaru simply blocked their appearance out. He had fought their kind; they were just a little more dangerous than a low level demon. They're pathetic really.
As hundreds of the monsters stormed towards him each carrying a sword that could easily end his life just as well as any other he breathed deeply. It was just like the old days.
And just like the old days he finally felt alive again.
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Author's notes:
Not bad for doing an entire chapter in one day. Normally I'd wait till tomorrow to finish up but a certain game for the Wii comes out tomorrow and well…let's just say I'll be getting very little sleep this week.
Anyway, as for the story I have something very important to ask.
Which do you like better, present day plot advancement or Kagome discovering Sesshomaru's past?
I really need your opinions because I have several different paths this fic could take and some are longer than others. So in case any of you were wondering depending on which one the majority of you choose there will be a significant impact on future chapters. Probably as soon as the next chapter.
Other than that I have to say your opinions on the fic are still needed. The more reviews I get the more I am motivated to get to get off my ass and find free time. Please tell me what you think. Questions on the story are accepted and I will try to answer a few in the next chapter. If you know someone who might be interested in the story please tell them about it. I love attention.
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No question this chapter just an answer.
Axis Sally was born in Portland, Maine in 1900 under the name Mildred E. Sisk. She moved to Germany sometime in 1934 or 35. (I'm not completely sure.) Later she became an announcer for Reichsrundfunk Overseas Service in Berlin. During WWII she played popular US music and during breaks she would make German propaganda broadcasts. When the war was over she was returned to the US and was charged with ten counts of treason. She was convicted of one count of treason and served 12 years in prison. Afterward she remained in the US and taught music in schools until she died of natural causes in 1988 in Ohio.
She was also known by US soldiers as 'Berlin Betty' and the 'Berlin Bitch.'