Title Into the Valley of Death

Author landofthekwt

Rating PG-13

Prompt Things that Go Bump in the Night (at First Tweak)

Word Count 1895

Even Zombies Need Love

Warning Character Death

Summary Sesshoumaru and Kagome go back to the grave of Inuaysha's Father

Sesshoumaru gazed out the window. The next step was not difficult. What was difficult for him was asking the miko to come with him. He was fairly sure that he knew where Inuyasha's brain was. Tessaiga had played this game before when it preserved Inuyasha's mind inside the Jewel.

He was also fairly certain where the sword was. His father had placed the sword within the body before he died. Tessaiga was bound to return to him. The way was clear. The passage in the Mountain in the Realm of Fire was guarded by Gozu and Mezu, but so long as he had Tenseiga they would bow before him.

The unfortunate aspect of this trip was that he needed Kagome. Much as he hated it, Tessaiga would not allow him to touch it. Although he had long since given up his desire for his father's sword and gained his own sword, he was not sure that the sword had ever forgiven him for trying to steal it no matter what Totosai said to the contrary.

The only one who could seize the sword if it was in its former resting place was Kagome. He had been shocked when it happened the first time. This time he would be prepared for every eventuality. The thought that she would actually touch his fluff made his stomach turn, but he would have to do it. He was not about to ride a dead bird when he could fly.

And so he approached Kagome with his proposal. At first she seemed surprised at his idea. No one could enter the gate that Gozu and Mezu guarded unless they were dead. She had no desire to die. It was pointless now that Inuyasha was alive. Unfortunately, she knew of no other ways to get to the tomb of Inuyasha's father since she was fresh out of black pearls and iron chickens.

Unfortunately, the ever-present Dr. Flora and Dr. Hitomit were eavesdropping. Sesshoumaru thought about allowing the pair to lead the way through the gate, but one look from the Shikon Miko told him that that was a bad idea which would cause him a great deal of pain. He could not help wondering what Inuyasha saw in this pain unless he enjoyed the pain she inflicted.

He gathered the group together for the trek to the Mountain of Fire. The anthropologists were shocked and amazed by what they saw. Nothing had changed since Kagome had come here five hundred years ago. The remnants of their camp were still here after all that time complete with cola cans, pocky wrappers, potato chip bags and ramen containers

Sesshoumaru allowed them to walk right up to the statutes. It was only when the statutes came to life and threatened to kill the cowering academics that he intervened. Even Kagome was impressed when the unbeatable guardians bent their knee to Sesshoumaru. She knew that Tenseiga could kill those not of this world, but she had never realized the respect it commanded from such creatures.

Kagome attached herself to moko-moko sama. Sesshoumaru began to feel sick. The idea of her touching something so precious to him just about made him vomit. The thought that three humans would be touching his fluff made him decide that they would ride his youki cloud. If they fell off so be it. He had already endured Kagome touching him. That was surely punishment enough for one lifetime.

They were still touching him. He had purposefully invoked his youki cloud so that they would not touch him yet they all felt it necessary to cling to him. Kagome was busy chattering to him about the diamond spears that attacked them as they approached his father';s grave while the professors were busy taking snapshots. Tourists.

Still even he was startled by the sight of his father's armor lumbering toward him, Tessaiga in hand. It sent him into shock. Could he really fight his father for Tessaiga? Why was his father attacking him now? He tried fending him off with Bakusaiga, but it appeared that since whatever his father was now, he was not of this world.

It seemed as he would have to use Tenseiga, but Tenseiga was not asking to be drawn. Could he really use Tenseiga against its creator? He was not sure that the sword would allow it. Kagome

Maybe she could do something. He cursed. The idiotic woman had forgotten to bring a bow and arrow. :Perhaps if he threw her at his father it would have the desired effect.

Sesshoumaru stood out of range of his father and considered his options. Bakusaiga had no effect. Tenseiga refused to be drawn. The miko had no arrows. The professors were merely in the way. What could he do? The lumbering colossus could not reach him, but neither could he affect the giant armored skeleton.

In frustration he aimed Bakusaiga at the skeletal remains underneath his father's feet. The attack did not cause the destruction that normally accompanied that attack, but it did cause the remains to shift. His father seemed to falter in his progress. Sesshoumaru tried the blast again. Soon it was clear that if he continued his father would not be able to keep his footing.

Down, down went the mighty warrior until he was prone. He had fallen and he got not get up The armor was preventing him from rising. Sesshoumaru landed and allowed his passengers to disembark. He still had no idea what to do about his father. Perhaps he should take the miko to him. She might be able to purify him.

The professors walked around the giant warrior. Clearly they were impressed. Sesshoumaru had never been impressed by his Father's size. He had learned over the years that size does not matter. It is what you do with what you have that counts. Motioning the miko to climb on he changed form.

Kagome was startled by the appearance of the giant dog. At least she had seen him in that shape before. The professors' eyes bugged out at the sight of the monstrous canine towering over the diminutive miko. Kagome swallowed and climbed onto Sesshoumaru's back. Together they galloped over to the head of the fallen daiyoukai

Kagome held her breath. It was hard staring into those empty sockets. There was no intelligence. Whatever had set the armor in motion, it was not Inuyasha's father. She climbed down and approached. It had been years since invoked her powers to purify youki. At the time she had not even known what she was doing.

She placed her hands on armor and tried to invoke her spiritual powers. A keening wail arose from deep within the skeleton as if someone was being tortured Kagome looked to Sesshoumaru who growled at her and pawed the ground. She continued until the skeleton began to collapse under its own weight. Sesshoumaru grabbed Kagome in his mouth and pulled her free of the wreckage.

When the dust cleared nothing remained of the mightiest daiyoukai to walk the face of the professors were examining a skull made of diamond while Sesshoumaru and Kagome concentrated on retrieving Tessaiga from the rubble. Sesshoumaru rooted around until he howled in agony when he found the sword.

Kagome picked it up. It shriveled under her touch. Whatever had caused it to reach its massive size was no longer effective. It was now as it had been when she first found it . Sesshoumaru now felt Tenseiga asking to be drawn. He resisted. The damn sword could have saved them time and effort if it had simply allowed itself to be drawn earlier.

Then he noticed the professors putting the skull into their backpacks and understood. Archeologists were just garbage collectors. They were stealing a living being. Tenseiga would free Father's friend from his duty as guardian of the tomb and allow him to go on to whatever awaited youkai on the next stage of being.

Sesshoumaru approached the pair demanding that they release their prisoner. They feigned ignorance, but a voice echoing from within their backpack belied such a defense. When Sesshoumaru persisted they gave up their treasure. The daiyoukai was about to purify the skull using Tenseiga when Kagome stopped him.

"Hosenki, why did you attack us?"

Sesshoumaru looked surprised. This crystal being waa Hosenki. He remembered a different person from long ago. Looking around he saw his father's form crumbled into dust. Hosenki merely a head. Even the daiyoukai were not immortal. Someday he would be where they were

It was depressing to think about. The shrill voice of the miko broke his reverie.

"Miko, is that you? He said you would come for him"

"Who?"

"Why, Inuyasha of course. His mind is inside the sword. He arrived here over one hundred years ago. Before his father departed this world for the next, he left me to guard being you saw was merely me animating the armor and skeleton. Now that you have come. I leave the task of guarding Tessaiga to you. Purify me and allow to leave this world in peace"

"Do you know how to transfer Inuyasha's mind back into his body?"

The skull looked at her in disgust as if answering an obvious question. "Simply put the sword in his hand. Tessaiga will do the rest."

Kagome looked to Sesshoumaru and nodded. He rammed Tenseiga through Hosenki's left eye socket. The jewelmaker howled until his voice faded on the wind and the skull vanished. Kagome said a prayer for his soul and looked up disgusted when Sesshoumaru snorted at her action.

"Youkai do not have souls"

Kagome simply nodded. Sesshoumaru did not know everything even if he thought he did. Sesshoumaru halted the collection of diamond dust by the professors. They all clambered on him and headed for the gate. Sesshoumaru breathed a sigh of relief when the shrine came into view. He was tired of contact with humans. They were annoying. The sooner they revived Inuyasha the sooner he could be free of the miko and the professors.

Kagome placed the sword in Inuyasha's hand and waited. Nothing happened. She was not sure what she had expected. Maybe for Inuyasha to wake up and tell her that she was Kikyou or a stupid bitch. Anything would be good at this point. Instead, he just hung as he had when she first met him caught with his angelic face asleep at the moment of death.

Then it hit her. He was no longer dead, No longer a zombie, but he was not alive. The arrow was still in his heart. For some reason the methods she had used before were not going to work this time. Hesitantly, she pulled on the arrow yelling "Revive Inuyasha" just as she had before.

Inuyasha slumped into her arms. The two of them collapsed on the ground together. The sword clattered on the ground. She yelled for Sesshoumaru to help her, but he thought they looked perfect that way.

Unfortunately for him she would not stop yelling. Finally, he lifted Inuyasha off her and placed Tessaiga on top of his brother. They could both full the pulse of youkai into Inuyasha's body, but unfortunately it did not revive him. It appeared that they would to figure out the final clue to accomplish that feat.