Chapter Thirteen

Morinoko sat in the library reading a book. Rather bored, she flipped it upside down, trying to see if she could still read it. She jumped when the door to the library opened loudly, Miroku coming into the room in a rush.

"Miroku," Morinoko greeted. "You seem excited."

Miroku shook his head. "Excited I feel not, but something inside me has gone into a frenzy." Miroku tore through the shelves, looking for something.

"Are you looking for something in particular?" Morinoko asked, standing up to stand beside Miroku.

Miroku nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, something I desperately need. You see, Inuyasha has returned with the wildest of stories!"

"And why may it be classified as wild?" Morinoko asked, interested.

"Roots sprang forth from the ground and attacked Inuyasha's patrol group!"

Morinoko froze, hearing the spirit's warning whispering in her head. "Soon, it will rise up under their voice's command and attack."

"That-that is impossible!" Morinoko stammered, her eyes going wide with worry.

Miroku shook his head. "It seems that it is not. Moriyokai possess many skills, such as healing powers and actual communication with nature. Now, it seems they may also be able to control the forest to act upon their whim."

"Tamon made trees attack Inuyasha?" Morinoko incredulously. Such skill seemed nearly impossible! Could the spirit have been correct?

"I know it seems like something made-up, but I tell the truth. Come, I have found the book. You must hear the story from Inuyasha."

Morinoko followed Miroku as he hurried back to Sesshomaru's study. For an old man, he sure was able to move quickly.

Back in Sesshomaru's study, Inuyasha sat covered in dirt and looking worn out. Morinoko gasped. His clothes were ripped and Morinoko could see a bruise that wrapped around his leg.

"Impossible!" she breathed. "How could a tree do that?"

Inuyasha looked down at his leg and shrugged. "I dunno, really. It started with a loud boom and a creak and then roots shot out of the soil, attacking us."

"Miroku, you have brought what I asked for?" Sesshomaru asked. Miroku nodded, bringing the book over to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru took the worn book, leafing through the pages, his eyes darting over the text.

Morinoko moved to sit beside Inuyasha. "What happened?" she asked.

Inuyasha shrugged. "I am not quite sure. We were patrolling the forest when roots just came out from the ground, wrapping around us and sailing through the air over us. I have never seen anything like that. Sesshomaru, have you ever heard of something like that?"

Sesshomaru, still looking at the book, shook his head. "I have seen something similar, but not to the extent you speak of."

"What did you see?" Morinoko asked pleasantly.

"I saw a flower grow."

"Oh," Morinoko responded.

Miroku chuckled. "He means he was one grow at a very fast pace. Moriyokai are known for their manipulation of plants, but not to the extent Inuyasha speaks of. Tamon must be more powerful than we could have ever imagined."

"Maybe Naraku has more than one?" Inuyasha supplied.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "Tamon is the last known moriyokai," he snapped.

"It was just a suggestion," Inuyasha grumbled.

"Look!" Miroku said, pointing at something in the book. "Right here is says that few Moriyokai possess the ability to manipulate nature, even fewer possess the ability to control it to a powerful extent. It seems Naraku got lucky. Tamon must be very strong and in tune with nature if he is able to control the forest with such ease."

"Well, how are we supposed to fight Naraku when Tamon can sense where we are and now attack us without the use of any army?"

"We go on offense," Sesshomaru responded. "It is time we go straight to Naraku and attack."

"If we even get that far into his land," Inuyasha muttered and Sesshomaru glared at him.

Sesshomaru turned to face Morinoko. "And you are not to do anything," he commanded and Morinoko opened her mouth to respond, but shut it when Sesshomaru gave her a hard look.

She leaned back against her seat, grumbling quietly to herself.

"I do not mean to sound rude, Sesshomaru-sama, but are you sure this is the best idea? Offense?" Miroku hedged. "Naraku seems to have us beat at every turn. Inuyasha could have been killed. In fact, I am surprised Naraku did not order Tamon to do so."

"Eh, Naraku's just showing off!" Inuyasha rebutted. "I am sure it was only a one-time thing. I mean, it has to take an immense amount of power to do what Tamon did. I cannot be possible to do it often."

Miroku thought for a moment. "Maybe, but are we willing to take a chance on only an assumption? We assume Tamon cannot, but what if he can? Your army will be eliminated immediately."

"My father gave me this land to protect and I will be damned if I let Naraku win!" Sesshomaru snarled. "We will attack and we will not lose!" Sesshomaru stormed out of the room after that. To issue out the attack, Morinoko supposed.

"This is dangerous," Miroku warned, though not that anyone to whom it mattered could hear him.

Inuyasha shrugged. "We do nothing; Naraku wins. We fight and lose; Naraku wins. At least it will not look like Sesshomaru gave up."

Morinoko frowned. "And what will happen to the rest of us? I cannot go to battle, Kikyo cannot go to battle, Ayame cannot go to battle. What will become of us? What will become of Sango, Miroku-san?"

"I do not know," Miroku admitted. "I suppose I should draw up a plan of evacuation to the mainland."

Inuyasha snorted. "Just do not tell Sesshomaru. He will probably see you as a traitor and you are too old to go to jail."

Miroku chuckled. "Sesshomaru-sama will be none the wiser." Miroku sobered up, feeling fear creep up on him. "He will probably not live to see the plan put to action."

Morinoko looked out the window, feeling panicked. Her father could die? She would be alone, on the mainland? Morinoko did not know what to do, so she quickly excused herself, running off to find the only being on this world that could assist her.

A/N: Haha, I'm back! Sorry for taking such an extended "vacation." College stuff has a tendency to monopolize one's time. A word of wisdom to anyone who will be applying to colleges in the near future: start early. I'm not kidding. At least I'm done though, all geared up to continue my edumacation. Whoo-hoo.