Shattered Ballads

In this holeThat is me
The dead are rolling over
In this holeThickening
Dirt shoveled over shoulders

Hakudoshi stomped back to his room, now disgusted to share a room with Matsuke because his fun was spoilt. He scanned his room, looking at the old pile of decaying bones and the myriad of devilish weapons. He picked up a large axe with his small hands and was about to chop a good size whole in the wall to vent his anger when he felt an aura behind him. He instead smirked and swung the axe out to decapitate the intruder when his lightning fast attack was deflected.

"Oh haku-kun, you have to be a bit faster to catch me with my guard down!" Hakudoshi was looking directly into the eyes of Jakotsu, and he was almost immediately rid of all frustration and anger towards, whats-his-face. Though Hakudoshi tried to hide it, Jakotsu was the only one who he would let near him, both in the physical and emotional meaning of the word. No one else was allowed to call him Haku-kun, and even though Hakudoshi didn't really know why Jakotsu intrigued him so much; he did, and it he didn't pretend to deny it. It mystified him though, he had only met Jakotsu a few times, yet he always left lasting impressions on his sadistic mind.

"Jakotsu, I am surprised you are here." Hakudoshi said simply while Jakotsu just smiled and put a finger to the corner of his mouth, either to think or to make Hakudoshi uneasy with his loose innuendo antics.

"Well, after the final battle with Inuyasha, Bankotsu, Renkotsu and Suikotsu and I were quite angry we missed it so we left and wandered a bit, but then! Hee hee hee! We noticed that the farther we got from that Naraku guy, the more we noticed that spell our jewel shards had on us was weakening. So we came here to investigate and visit of course!" Jakotsu hefted his sword on his shoulder and sighed "I missed seeing my Haku-kun, but not his nasty room. I enjoy a good bloody fight, but not in the bedroom!" looking about the reeking room in utter disgust. Hakudoshi noticed Jakotsu's disapproval and his dark sexual humor and began to walk past him and down the hallway.

"That is because Naraku is becoming unbalanced." Hakudoshi admitted without so much as emotion but more of a simple fact. He turned to Jakotsu who didn't seem surprised or scoffing, why should he, he only met Naraku once if that many times.

"Unbalanced? What do you mean! Does that mean that Bankotsu's and the rest of our shards are going to be reabsorbed!" Jakotsu gasped and his thin ruby lips tugged into a frump of a frown and Hakudoshi immediately began to explain.

"His demonic side, as far as I can gather, is beginning to battle his human heart for some reason or another; he is having trouble focusing." Hakudoshi explained, trying to ease the tension out of Jakotsu who was not in any mood to have his lifeline taken from him. He needed the Shikon no Kakera to pillage, plunder and most of all, to love doing those things. In fact, the only thing he might love more than pillaging and plundering was to to pillage and plunder with a celebration at the end Bankotsu and his friends, meaning Hakudoshi.

"Ah. I see. A battle of heart or mind, which shall prove victorious in the end!" Jakotsu put a dramatic hand to his forehead and let his delicate eyelids droop over his eyes which made Hakudoshi feel a bit awkward. 'Jakotsu is an interesting man, amusing and attractive, but I can't let these things go to my head, especially with the number of known and unknown enemies I have.'

"Aw, is something troubling you Haku-kun?" Jakotsu teased and planted both of his hands on either side of the lavender haired demon, who stood in complete shock. "I could remedy that Haku kun—" Jakotsu leaned foreword and Hakudoshi remained glued in his spot, unable to think, his instincts were gone too, he was a deer in the headlights. However, a certain wind witch strolled down the hallway which caused Jakotsu to hiss in annoyance and pull back. Kagura rolled her eyes and proceeded down the hallway to Naraku's domain.

"You see? Women are nothing but trouble and nuisances." Jakotsu put his hands on his hips and watched Kagura as she entered Naraku's room and closed the door. Immediately after that Jakotsu crept up to the closed door and put his ear to it to eavesdrop on what could be very juicy gossip, or Naraku's next plan. Hakudoshi frowned 'That stupid idiot is going to get himself killed one day.' however, Hakudoshi was still thinking about the near kiss and wondering if he felt more relieved when Kagura came down the hall or disappointed. Either way, he followed Jakotsu to the door and for once in his life, expressed interest in doing something very childish.

"Master Naraku, the insect told me you wanted to speak." Kagura began to walk down the entry way uneasily, her hand instinctively at her fan in case something was a miss because there definitely was, Naraku's presence was here, but she couldn't find him. She walked into another room and there propped up in a cold fever sweat was Naraku.

"Naraku?" She said scarcely above a whisper, what could be going on, it is as if he was very ill. His body was very pale and he was sweating, his eyes were closed and his Jaki was very low for the sinister half-breed. Kagura pulled out her fan, 'this is it, this is my chance to kill Naraku and end this!' She walked carefully up to Naraku, expecting to run into a barrier or get knocked back by an unexpected punch, but nothing came.

He simply was too dizzy to move.

And then his eyes opened and Kagura took a hasty step back. 'I'm so in for it, I'm so going to get tortured!' she tried putting her fan back in her kimono but her trembling hand caused it to clatter on the floor. She didn't dare pick it up. Naraku's eyes were flashing bright red, then normal, then bright red again.

"Kagura." He managed to choke out as his mind was going in two different directions, one was to simply be left in peace to rest, and the other was to take Kagura and have his way with her then absorb her. Naraku didn't want the latter for whatever reasons; Naraku's motives were not to be questioned. However, he knew that even with the jewel shards his body was becoming unstable no matter how he wanted to deny it. He needed more Shikon no Kakera.

"Did you retrieve any shikon no kakera?" Kagura gasped, he never told her to retrieve any, she would have probably taken the ones from Kouga, but it was Hakudoshi's and Matsuke's job, and Matsuke both came back empty handed because of Miroku's kazaana. It never crossed her mind that he needed them now. Hey wait, what did it matter what he needed anyway! Like she cared what Naraku needed.

"No. You never told me to get any. That was Matuske's and Hakudoshi's job. They couldn't get any because Miroku was able to use his Kazaana once Kikyo's soul snatchers ate the insects." She said simply then whispering the "Master Naraku" later.

"Then I need you and Hakudoshi to retrieve the shininchin tai's shards immediately, they are no more of any use to me." Naraku ordered before he fell back down on the futon, seemingly motionless, but he had enough control over his body to deflect any attack she would try to hit him with. 'When she tries to attack me, I'll simply subdue her. What are you kidding me? This is the perfect opportunity to take her! Rape her! Absorb her! With her inside of us she will make us stronger! I don't need to reabsorb her; it simply does not need to be done! Does not need to be done, or does not want to be done?

Kagura's stomach immediately began to flip. 'Kanna and Naraku with Matsuke?' Is that wise? Then she thought of it a moment 'Of course it is, if Matsuke kills Naraku then I could finally have my freedom, and travel around as free as the wind.' Her countenance brightened and before Naraku knew any better, Kagura slipped out of the room, picking up her fan on the way with a hopeful expression.

Naraku noticed when the shoji screen closed, and was surprised and concerned that no attack came.

When Kagura exited the room, Hakudoshi was standing alone in the hallway, his usual dark cold eyes were knit in confusion, and it looked as if he were pushed into the wall because around his head was an indention. Kagura inwardly frowned, she knew that Hakudoshi had been close to Jakotsu and they probably overheard what was going to happen. Happiness and solace at Naraku's fortress never lived long.

"I understand now." The sudden sullen words of Hakudoshi sent Kagura reeling a bit. "Your rebellion. Though this will be a good fight, I was not planning on such a fight to occur so soon." Hakudoshi said slowly, choosing his words carefully. Kagura felt a bit of empathy towards him, even though he loves to shed blood, the person's blood he will have to shed won't be to his liking. And with that, Hakudoshi went in the direction of the dojo and Kagura followed, they both had to vent some emotion as vivid as the sunset.

Tear me from the bone Tear me from myself
Are you feeling happy now?

In the western lands, the sun was about to set, and even though all seemed calm and normal, within the tangled blackish brown branches of it's usually pruned forest, hell came upon the rag tag group of humans and demons who were set on destroying Naraku once and for all.

Kikyo was still kneeling beside Kouga, she was still debating about the shikon no kakera inside of Kouga. There just had to be another way, if she gave Kouga too many shards, his mind might warp with the power. Then she looked at the vial of shards that she had, perhaps she could amplify her power, like she did with Sesshoumaru's arm, with the shards she had. Could she do it? She had to. Kikyo got into the full lotus position, the best position to concentrate her power, and held the vial of shards in one hand, and put her other hand over Kouga's chest. If she could close up his chest wounds, he would survive.

"I call upon these woods, please all the kami of the woods, hear my call. Purify my body so that I may heal this forest inhabitant." She murmured, hoping that by keeping on the good side of the kami, she could get some of her power back. 'Please, don't let me fail him. I am not Kagome and she may be a better friend, lover and person, but I am a better priestess!' Kikyo began to feel some of her powers return, and the forest trees began to sway, but the power was not enough. Kouga's wounds weren't closing fast enough, if at all.

So she did the next most dire thing, she began to emit some of her own life force, something only highly trained mikos could accomplish. Her hand began to grow a lilac color and she began to see that Kouga's demonic healing ability was accelerated greatly by it. 'Just a little bit more, I can do it. I can save him this time!' Her eye sight blurred and her pulse began to get fainter and fainter, but the innumerable wounds that Kouga had were closing. 'I……can…do it... I can….take care….of the ones...i….' was all she could think of before she finally slipped out of consciousness and her body fell out of its perfect lotus shape into a heap on the ground. Lifeless. Her soul catchers beginning to circle overhead in confusion.

'Hn….wha?" Kouga's eyes opened and he tilted his head to the side and saw Kikyo's ghostly pale face shine back at him white as snow. Kouga tried to move his muscles, but he was simply too tired to do so, besides his head was pounding and he was very lightheaded, but knew it was Kikyo. 'She saved me? Was the face I saw not Kagome? He was so confused and dizzy at the moment, he forgot Kagome was dead and that the dream wasn't reality, but a sick torture device. 'It was Kagome who betrayed me, not Kikyo.' was Kouga's last thought before drifting back asleep. However, he was not alone in the glade, Kanna who had been flung back by the Monk's staff, watched Kikyo sacrifice himself for him.

'These humans care for these demons. It is apparent that they are not simply using them as a tool to either get the shikon shards, or revenge against Naraku. Yet, I wonder if the demons feel the same in return.' Kanna, whose dress was tattered and hair a bit tangled, walked silently into the dark forest which had been swaying so she could silently disappear back to Naraku's fortress. Yet, the thought of the monk beating her back sill lingered fresh in her mind.

Miroku to say the least was in shock. His eyes were wide and soft as he gazed at the mangled mess that used to be the proud taiyoukai of the western lands. He looked like an old ragdoll dipped in red paint then torn apart by some animal. Miroku touched what used to be a flawless clawed hand, now cut to the bone with harsh slashes that appeared from nowhere. Yet it didn't matter any more what Sesshoumaru looked like.

Sesshoumaru was dead.

Rin had been taken away by Ginta, Hakkaku and Shippo. Rin was in such a state of anxiety that Ginta and hakkaku didn't even scare her even though they were wolf demons. It was the images of the Late Lord Sesshoumaru would most likely scar her for the rest of her life. Yet Miroku remained at his side, praying to whatever kami would listen to help this youkai regain his life force. Yet it seemed hopeless, Sesshoumaru almost looked inside out, and the blood he lost was enough to kill him even without the damaged heart. Miroku was on the verge of hysterics. His pole was long disregarded and his mind was swirling faster than his Kazaana ever could.

"How…why? You…Oh gods, why has this happened! If only I ran faster, if only I knew how to heal! If only…" Miroku's heart had become heavy with guilt and despair, it seemed to weigh him down. Sesshoumaru was his only hope and now he is dead, the regal, cold Taiyoukai has been slain by some coward! Miroku began to convulse and he didn't even hear Jaken trying to talk some sense into him. He didn't care anymore, first Sango now Sesshoumaru! 'Both of them are gone, this can't be real, he can't die, he is invincible, he is the Taiyoukai…he was perfect to me.'

He was the only one, who could fix things, and now…

"Sesshoumaru…this isn't fair, this isn't just!" Miroku cursed and looked to Sesshoumaru's lifeless bloody face, his eyes were closed and his mouth was agape in pain, also the markings on his face were becoming dull along with his once gorgeous silver hair. Miroku collapsed to the ground on his left side banging the ground with his fist over and over the pain of his hand hitting small jagged rocks didn't even register.

"Damnit, why does everyone I care for have to die! I loved Sango and she died, and now Sesshoumaru! I….think I might have loved him." Miroku proclaimed the last part softer, it had never occurred to him that he, the lecherous womanizing monk could in fact love a man, but in some crazy roundabout way he did. He wished for every once of his soul that it could be him dead instead of Sesshoumaru, after all, he had to take care of Rin, get revenge against Naraku and he had the power to do it, Miroku had none of that. He was just a human he couldn't do it alone.

"Please Sesshoumaru tell me you aren't really dead. Just open your eyes, strangle me, kill me, but please, don't be silent."

thmmmm

thmmmmmmm

thmmmm

A humming sound and a bright blue light brought Miroku from his crumpled state, and what he saw amazed him. It was Tenseiga, and it was glowing so bright it seemed to light up the sky. Miroku stumbled back a bit like a crab walk, and he watched as the light continued to pulse. It finally registered what was going on. Tenseiga wants to heal Sesshoumaru! Could it be possible? Jaken came up from behind Miroku and gazed at his lord, his eyes squished in despair, open only with a small glint of hope.

"It's Tenseiga. It's calling!" Jaken announced, making Miroku pull out of his thoughts. Miroku then knew what he had to do; he was going to be the one to use Tenseiga. Even though he was human, he knew that he could do it. He stood up and began to walk resolvedly to the body of Sesshoumaru. He stood over Sesshoumaru, his face glowing blue from the fang.

"What? What are you doing! You can't touch the sword you are a pathetic dirty human!" Jaken exclaimed, waddling up to Miroku, tugging on his robes, but he paid no heed, he was determined to save one person's life today. He took his hand with the kazanna and grabbed Tenseiga with a firm grasp. Jaken cowered, expecting a large reaction, but it didn't happen. Miroku simply picked up the Tenseiga, but to his dismay, he had no idea how to use it. He whipped around back to Jaken, his eyes ferocious with determination.

"Tell me, how does Sesshoumaru raise the dead? Do you know?" He yelled to Jaken hastily who just took a step foreword to touch the hilt of the sword. It began to stop humming and the blue was now lighter and only appeared to make the blade blue. Jaken simply didn't know, He had been resurrected by the sword before, but he didn't know how to use it.

"Fool, only Master Sesshoumaru knew how to use it….Wha! What are those things!" Jaken exclaimed and with both of them clutching Tenseiga together, they noticed little dispatcher demons crawling over Sesshoumaru's corpse. Miroku and Jaken then wildly swung Tenseiga at the demons, obliterating each one, though clumsily.

They waited, breaths hitched, they dare not breathe if it meant stealing air from Sesshoumaru. Immediately, though, they noticed the color come back to his sharp facial markings, the sheen filter through his hair, and his skin lost the bluish complexion. And as if his skin took on a life of its own, the wounds like little mouths began to close slowly up. Though, neither Miroku, Jaken or even Matsuke himself could have predicted what would reveal themselves behind his crimson eye lids.

His eyes were blood red, blue slitted and blood chillingly terrifying. His eyes locked on to Miroku and the first thing out of his mouth was.

"Ningen." He sat straight up, Sesshoumaru looking expertly at his surroundings, the emotional wounds from his dream still fresh in his mind. Weak, a human lover, unworthy. Oh he would show his family; he would show them all what he had in himself. He was going to prove his worth, and he didn't even hear Miroku's or Jaken's bubbling 'thank kami's" He was out for blood, and he felt himself straining against his demon blood from turning into his full form yet.

Sesshoumaru's claws shouted Weak

"Oh Sesshoumaru, I am so glad it work—" A hand was at Miroku's throat, and he was surprised to say the least, Miroku wondered if it was possible to fear someone he loved, because at that moment, the menacing form of Sesshoumaru pierced every nerve he had.

Sesshoumaru's stare screamed Unworthy

"I did not need you. I would have survived anyway. I refuse to get help from a human such as yourself, weak, ineffective filth!" He threw Miroku to the side and grinned maniacally at Jaken, who blanched as white as a sheet. Whoever said that Sesshoumaru should smile was not picturing the purple jagged stripes just underneath blood curdling red eyes and flanking the flesh shredding fangs. Sesshoumaru was not the same Sesshoumaru any longer.

Sesshoumaru's fangs shrieked Compassionate

"Mi Lord, What may I do?" Jaken quivered and he felt like turning to jell-o, but he couldn't be afraid of his lord, but something inside of Jaken said that the demon before him just couldn't be Sesshoumaru. Instead of cold and calculative, his emotions were running rampant and the unbridled bloodlust was thick in the air. Jaken never felt such a rage in his Lord, not even when Inuyasha cleaved his arm off.

"This Sesshoumaru requires nothing! How dare you, a pathetic excuse for a third class demon even suggest that! I am all powerful. I do not need anything or anyone! I am the Lord of the West!" He hissed, venom flying from his claws as he whipped them through the air, some landing by the wide-eyed Miroku who was wondering if he did something wrong. 'What could have changed him like this? Why is he so hostile?'

"Sesshoumaru, are you ok?" Then Miroku was kicked in the gut harshly by the hard toed boot of Sesshoumaru and a small yelp peaked from his lips. His frightened lavender gaze traveled up the façade of white robes to the red eyed demon before him. His silver hair was unruly and his mouth was tight in a jagged grin.

"How dare you address me so improperly!" Sesshoumaru reached for his Tessiaga and whipped it out, the blade mysteriously remained untransformed, but it didn't matter a rusty blade in the hands of a Taiyoukai was deadly enough. Miroku gulped as the rusty blade was raised like a slow elevator and glinted in the dying light. Miroku couldn't form words, he just couldn't believe the irony, he was strangled and now he was going to die.

Jaken looked on speechless, knowing that if he breathed a word his life would be next. Jaken however, couldn't understand how his master changed so dramatically. 'I don't understand, my master is always cold, collected and calculative…but now he just reminds me of his foolish late younger brother Inuyasha and that foolish wolf Koga. It was Inuyasha's and Kouga's brash, emotional filled fighting strategy that led to his death.' then Jaken put the pieces together. 'What if the dream he had was to change him…into Inuyasha and Kouga?'

Then the katana named Tessaiga came like the sunset down to Miroku's body. Like fire hitting the earth. Miroku couldn't believe this was happening, Sesshoumaru was killing him. Miroku was unable to close his eyes, the lavender staying locked on the red and Sesshoumaru noticed. Miroku was going to look him in the eyes as he died.

Then Tessaiga was raised and with a snarl of dagger like teeth, Sesshoumaru was in the sky, leaving a trail of crimson to match the bloodshed that would come. Somewhere near Naraku's fortress, Matsuke's sinister plan was unfolding, somewhere fleeing Naraku's fortress, Jakotsu was very angry and very puzzled, somewhere in the West Kikyo was hanging to life by threads, and somewhere in the ruins of an Taiyoukai's castle were the tears shed by a lavender eyed lover.

In this holeThat is me
Left with a heart exhausted
What's my release?
What sets me free?
Do you pull me up just to push me down again?
Happy?- Mudvayne

AN:forgive the wait, I don't have writers block so don't worry, I was just trying to figure out the exact timeline for the story and my plan was set back a few days because I didn't initially think I would have a Jak/hak pairing, but I decided to throw it in there. sorry if Hakudoshi is out of character, I don't really know how he is supposed to be in character so I decided to create my own personality for him by the descriptions I see.

I hope you liked this sad chapter please read and review.