Chapter 10: InuTaisho and the land of the living

The area was pitch black, the temperature dropped making it ice cold, and it feels as if your soul is sucking out of your body. It did not affect Anubis, but it did affect Yoshie she fell to the ground holding onto to her body as if her soul was leaving her. Anubis wasn't aware of Yoshie, he was determined to find Hana. He stood in place and banged his scythe on the ground, and a bright light appeared relinquishing a fresh atmosphere. It seemed as if the land that was once covered in human bones and canine bones disappeared. Flowers spread across the floor, the trees stood tall, and birds were chirping in trees. When the atmosphere changed Yoshie no longer felt as if her soul was leaving her, but she felt in peace for some reason.

"Hana!" Anubis called out still in his god like form. While he was searching the area, Yoshie took this time to seek out Inu no Taisho. She figured she would know what he looks like once she sees him, but she had to keep Anubis in eye sight. If she doesn't leave with Anubis she'll be stuck here, but her soul will reside in the Underworld. Yoshie was walking along the beautiful ground covered with white flowers and noticed a tall man standing along a blossom tree. She was amazed of his features, he stood tall and confident. His face expression looked as if he was in peace. She approached him with caution, he felt her presence behind him and stated in a deep husky voice that sent shivers down her spine, "What is it that you want?"

Yoshie was staring at his back and observed the area he was looking at. A land filled with life, the scent of happiness filled the air. The breeze that touched her skin felt smooth.

He growled at her for not answering his question. She approached closer responding, "I am looking for InuTaisho, do you know where he might be."

He titled his head to the side to show he heard her question "Why do you seek Lord InuTaisho?"

The more he talked the more she became more nervous, she felt such a strong demonic presence from him, stronger than the dog demon she fought in battle not too long ago. "Why do you remain silent woman," he asked growling for his patience was running thin.

"My Goddesses request of his presence and ask to aid them in the help of retrieving an important artifact," Yoshie replied bowing in respect. When she rose her head, her eyes met golden eyes, his face expression came off strong. He approached her stating, "You must come from the land of the living. I will aid no one I am in peace, remove yourself from my presence woman" waving his hand dismissing her.

Yoshie looked at the horizon than back at the tall dog demon, taking in his features; beautiful golden eyes, a purple jagged marking along his cheeks, his strong jaw structure, his fur attached to his armor, and silk fabric wrapped around his hair. 'He must be Lord InuTaisho'

"My Goddesses believe you are capable of retrieving such an important artifact," Yoshie stated, "Lord InuTaisho."

The great dog demon narrowed his eyes at the fact she knew who he was, and he noticed her warrior like attire and her grip on her sword handle. "Take your hand of your sword, I do not wish to fight a woman," he stated in a cold tone voice, "I will not repeat myself, removed yourself from my presence."

"Please come with me, we really need your help. You are the most powerful demon who is capable of helping them," Yoshie stating bowing almost to the ground, she knew Goddess Sekhmet will have her head if she did not come back with InuTaisho.

He walked passed her and his white fur that fell against his back brushed against her, "Very well then, I am in a need of an adventure." Yoshie was pleased with his answer and noticed Anubis was aware Hana wasn't here and was about to leave. She didn't want to walk to close to Anubis, she turned to the great dog demon who was looking straight forward, before she can inform him of what's going on he cut her off, "I am assuming that friend of yours with the odd attire ahead opened the gates to the Afterlife." He assumed they came here together, but she didn't want him to know that he was against her and her Goddesses she had to come up with a lie, but had to spread the truth the Great dog demon such as himself would spot any lie. "He will not travel with us Lord, he is only here to open the gates," Yoshie stated looking forward, and they entered the vertex after Anubis went through. The area went dark, while white sand twirled around Inu no Taisho leaving him in shock, and he felt the soul enter his body. He was the same demon he was before he perished during battle. They appeared back at his grave site, he gazed at his hands and looked up at his deceased skeleton dog skeleton body. "You are the same person, so is your body," Yoshie stated while pointed at his canine skeleton body sitting on human remains disappeared, "It is as if you never died Lord InuTaisho." She watched him as he closed his eyes and breathed in the air that smelled of multiplies fragrances in the air. "What is your name woman," he asked tugging on his armor. "Yoshie, My Lord," she answered. He started into her eyes stating, "Take me to your Goddesses, Yoshie." As than ventured through the forest, Shizuka ran up to Yoshie informing her, "Anubis found Hana, but." Before she could finish she saw a tall demon standing in front of Yoshie, she was amazed with his beauty. She felt such a strong demonic aura coming from him and she knew he was Lord InuTaisho she bowed placing her hands on her side, "My Lord, my name is Shizuka I will accompany you and Yoshie back to the palace." Lord InuTaisho nodded his head, and they trailed off to the palace.

Hana ran toward Anubis human form slapping his face catching him off guard, he was confused. He placed his hand against his cheek in complete shock that someone dare would hit him especially a human. She looked at Hana confused and his face went serious along did his tone, "Do not do that again Hana," baring his fangs at Hana she backed away slowly holding on to her jacket, "why did you venture so far out, when you could have just relieved yourself by the large tree a few feet from campsite. I thought you were dead and went to search for you in the afterlife."

Hana's eyes started to tear and she began to hug herself. In a shaken voice, "I thought you had left me." Anubis still looked at her serious and sighed, "How could I have left you, when you were the one that left to relieve yourself," he placed his hand on the side of his head and calmly stated, "Look I took you in not Bastet, so that makes you my responsibly. Bastet could care less if you ventured off, but I am to look out for you until you find a way back home. Which you have not mentioned in a while."

Hana dropped to her knees and balled into tears causing Anubis to feel sad he didn't mean to make her cry, he was just annoyed that she is so gullible to fall into traps. He knelt down to Hana, which made her cry even more, "I don't know how to get home! I was held captive with a sword to my neck, you were going to make me skin a rabbit. I walked into a misty area, because I thought I saw you. And. and…" she looked up to the sky and yelled, "I haven't bathed in days!" causing birds to fly out of the trees, and Anubis held his ears tight from the screech. He placed his hand in front of his face growling in annoyance 'Why is she such an emotional creature. I am pretty much watching over a kid'.

Izanami Palace

They approached Izanami palace. Lord Inu no Taisho eyes the guard as they opened the gates, he was starting to get skeptical of course he knew who Goddess Izanami was, but Yoshie's stated 'Goddesses'.

'What other Goddess resides with Izanami.'

As they walked along the long hallway, Shizuka tugged on Yoshie pointing to the Goddesses sitting on a bench by the pond. Lord InuTaisho was shocked at the beauty of the Goddesses in front of him, he bowed in respect for he was below them even if he was a Lord he was no God. "You must be Lord InuTaisho," Izanami said calmly approaching the dog demon raising him up. "Please stand," she insisted. Goddess Sekhmet observed the dog demon and noticed a strong demonic aura came off from him she knew he was stronger than Izanami creations. Izanami stepped aside to give him a view of Sekhmet introducing him to her, "She is Goddess Sekhmet, you are here to aid us on our quest to search for Was." Sekhmet stepped closer adding on to the information Izanami gave, "And destroy the Goddess known as Bastet along with her companion God Anubis." Izanami was speechless she did not inform her she wanted to destroy Gods. Sekhmet heard her gasp, but she will not question her with company present.

Sekhmet glared at the mighty dog demon, "Lord InuTaisho I come from the land of Egypt. Which is why I look different from what your use to seeing. Since you walk the living again you are now the strongest demon alive. This quest is very important, and I would be thrilled if you find it soon and destroy those Gods" Inu no Taisho was not fond of her demands, but out of curiosity he asked, "What is this Was you speak of Goddess?" Sekhmet narrowed her eyes at him at the fact he is asking questions he does not need the answers too, "Just know it is an important artifact InuTaisho."

"hn," InuTaisho stated he bowed toward the Goddess and dismissed himself. Sekhmet grew frustrated she looked at the Shizuka and Yoshie, "Follow him, and make sure he doesn't linger from his duty." Izanami walked beside Sekhmet as they watched them walk away, "Lord InuTaisho will be fine, but what is this that you want him to destroy the Gods that are on my lands." Sekhmet turned her head to look at her and smiled, "They will bring hatred and use your humans against you and dethrone you of your duty." Of course, Izanami didn't believe much of what she said she simply walked away as her guards walked beside her. When she was out of plain sight Sekhmet growled in anger fearing her plan will be ruined.

Water was flowing along the works, and the fishes were jumping along the stream. Sesshomaru-sama was watching Bastet lying beside the cool stream he placed her in hoping the smell will wake her up. He watched the sun hit her skin that made her tan skin glow and sparkle. He noticed her eyes twitch as which she was slowly waking up, she sat up realizing Sesshomaru was staring at her. She cut her eyes at him and asked in a harsh voice, "Where is Anubis?" Sesshomaru responded boredly, "Obviously, the Jackal God is not here Goddess. It is just the two of us." Bastet walked past him eyeing him for him to follow, he smiled lightly so she wouldn't see it. As they walked along the forest, three small demons that looked like small children jumped in front of them. They seem as if they were tricksters, and Bastet noticed when they started running circles around Bastet and Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru was getting annoyed and his eyes flashed red letting out a deep growl. Which worked and they took off with laughter. "Must you be so brutal," Bastet said walking past him. She walked toward a cliff and sat on the edge gazing in the sky that would soon fall into darkness and the moonlight would shine upon them. Sesshomaru walked toward Bastet noticing how her tan skin glowed so beautiful. Bastet acknowledged the demon beside her and stated in such a calm voice that even relaxed the cold ice prince, "The person we are searching for is known as Sekhmet, we use to be one, but love drove us. The fact that no one honored our father drove her mad, she longed for revenge riding humans across Egypt. She killed thousands daily, until my father tricked her into drinking a river of wine thinking it was blood, and she collapsed in a deep sleep. A Goddess known as Mutt separated our minds and bodies. Till' this day our ideals are different she still long for blood, and I long for peace. I believe you would be a good match for Sekhmet Sesshomaru." He growled at her last comment, but he enjoyed killing. "I know she came here to take the throne away from some God and become a powerful God forcing humans, demons, and Gods and bring them to their knees."

Sesshomaru looked down at the precious Goddess 'Such a powerful creature had such a big heart toward others.'

"I longed for Sekhmet, but when they separated us. I felt she had not only hatred toward Ra, but toward me. We were stronger together, but we grew weak when they separated us. She no longer mourns for me, but I mourn for her. For she may be reckless and cruel," she gazed into the stars, a tear fell along her cheek "she is my better half."

Bastet didn't realize, Sesshomaru had licked the tear from her face and she gasped at his reaction. Suddenly, she fixed her posture and her face. "No Goddess should shed a tear," she stated while getting up. As they were walking along the trail in hopes to find Anubis and Hana, those three creatures Sesshomaru scared away appeared again. Sesshomaru ignored them but blocked his path, he growled warning them to get out his way. The small demon children pranced around Bastet and Sesshomaru chanting a song. Bastet notice a bright light that looked like stars forming around them. Bastet and Sesshomaru began to glow and rise off the ground, their hair flowing and clothing flowing against them. Suddenly, a bright light appeared, making them shield their eyes.

Chapter 11: Sesshomaru's Touch

Sesshomaru understands the meaning behind Bastet's pain, and Sekhmet's hatred toward her and the Gods. The comfort of Sesshomaru's touch is enough to calm Bastet and her painful memories.

Thank you all for reading and thank you for the reviews!