Chapter 14: The Sky Shatters

Their camp was silent that night. Tranquility had fallen over the grove, which belied the war-torn nature of the land they dwelled in. A green haired half demon looked at his companion in concern. The brown haired samurai priestess' eyes were gazing into the forest. She sat cross-legged, a katana over her legs.

'Tsukiyomi, you seem distant. Why?' said the demon after a moment.

'You have heard of the Band of Seven, Hoshiyomi?' she said.

'You mean those human mercenaries whom the Lords hunt?' noted Hoshiyomi. 'What of them?'

'We have seen their work many times.' said Tsukiyomi. 'I have watched many widows mourning husbands they slaughtered. Many parents grieving for fallen children. Children left without guardians from their onslaught. They have been waging a campaign of blood across the land. Let us help hunt them down.'

'As you wish.' said Hoshiyomi. 'If you lead, I will follow.'

She stood and buckled her sword to her side. 'Thank you, Hoshiyomi.'

Night fell over the Band of Seven's camp as Inuyasha waited for Myoga to return. He had given the flea the task of finding the rallying point for the armies of the Lords. As he waited against the side of a log, he saw Bankotsu polishing his Banryu. Mukotsu was relaying a story of one of his conquests to Kyokotsu. Renkotsu was catching up on his sleep. Last of all, Ginkotsu was silent and stalwart as always, thinking.

Myoga returned. 'Lord Inuyasha, I have done as you requested. The Lords have made their primary camp around the area of Mount Hakurei, no doubt using its holy aura as a symbol. However, many armies are moving to support them.'

'Then we'll just have to wipe the main army out before anyone can reinforce them.' said Banryu. 'Wouldn't you say, Inuyasha?'

'Sure, whatever,' said Inuyasha.

'Please take this seriously,' said Myoga, 'there are a huge amount of soldiers there. Even a powerful demon might be hard-pressed to defeat them.'

'Then go and count them.' said Bankotsu. 'Figure out how many of them there are.'

'I don't take orders from anyone except those of Lord Inuyasha's bloodline.' snapped Myoga, a tone of spite in his voice.

Bankotsu surged forward and gripped him between two fingers. 'You want to rephrase that?'

'Not really, actually,' stated Myoga in defiance.

Bankotsu crushed him and turned to walk back to where he'd been before. 'Whatever, Inuyasha, tell him to do what we want done.'

'Myoga,' said Inuyasha, 'could you go count out exactly how many soldiers they have at Mount Hakurei for us?'

'As you command, Lord Inuyasha.' said Myoga, before disappearing.

Inuyasha looked over everyone before he realized something. 'Where is Jakotsu?'

'No idea,' said Bankotsu, 'couldn't you follow his scent and track him down or something.'

'Right,' said Inuyasha, before sniffing around.

He picked up Jakotsu's scent by the makeup and followed it through the forests. He stepped over roots, and under low hanging branches until he came to a pool. There he stopped short as he saw Jakotsu bathing in the waters, and Inuyasha froze in place. He saw Jakotsu's true gender.

Jakotsu looked up. 'Oh, Inuyasha, I was wondering if you'd show up.'

'So… uh…' Inuyasha stammered, 'you are a… well…'

'Yes,' said Jakotsu playfully, 'is it a problem?'

'No, it just… wasn't what I was expecting.' said Inuyasha.

'Well, what were you expecting?' asked Jakotsu in a husky voice.

'Well I didn't really-' began Inuyasha.

Jakotsu's blade lashed out and caught Inuyasha around the waist. Jakotsu hauled on the sword and pulled Inuyasha down into the water. It was ice cold, and Inuyasha raised up, spluttering as drops of his blood floated up to the surface of the water. 'Jakotsu what the hell!' he snapped 'You could have killed me!'

'I know exactly how much you can take Inuyasha.' said Jakotsu behind him, voice lustful.

Inuyasha turned around and found himself face to face with Jakotsu. He became aware of an undeniable movement in his nether regions. Jakotsu moved forward, pressing her chest against his as their lips met. Inuyasha found himself kissing back. They tore off the robe of the fire rat. His upper clothes quickly followed as bare-chested they-

'You know there might be samurai around.' said a voice.

Instantly Inuyasha froze up, shuddering as he glanced up to see Renkotsu. He was looking down at them from the edge of the pool. Inuyasha separated and grasped for his clothes. Jakotsu crossed his arms in front of his chest in annoyance. 'Renkotsu, it was just getting good. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had a crush on Inuyasha yourself.'

'Keep talking like that, and I'll tear your throat out.' snapped Renkotsu.

'Renkotsu, this wasn't-' Inuyasha stammered.

'Inuyasha I couldn't care less who you sleep with,' said Renkotsu. 'Though I will admit you could pick safer targets. My problem is when you chastise Mukotsu for wasting time. And then spend hours away from camp without explanation. You are aware that we are about to head into battle?'

'No better time for it.' said Jakotsu in irritation.

'Just get your clothes back on, and get back to camp.' said Renkotsu.

Jakotsu and Inuyasha dressed and followed Renkotsu back to camp, dripping with water. Before they got there, Inuyasha smelled a delicious scent he hadn't in years: Roast venison.

Kyokotsu had caught several wild deer with his bare hands and brought them back to be cooked. Bankotsu was cooking sticks of meat over the fire, and the deer's skin and bones were lying some ways away. He looked up to them. 'Hey, Inuyasha, Jakotsu, where did you two get off too?' His tone said he suspected more than Inuyasha was willing to admit.

'Shut up,' said Inuyasha, 'are we going to eat or what?'

'In a few minutes,' said Bankotsu, 'let's just relax for a bit, shall we?'

The seven friends crowded around the campfire in the chill of night. Soon we're all eating their meat with a hunger that one only gets when traveling long distances. It was delicious, and they devoured it quickly. Afterward, they sat around the campfire, unsure of what to do next.

'Has anyone thought past tomorrow?' asked Bankotsu.

'You mean after we destroy the largest Army Japan has ever known?' asked Inuyasha with a raised eyebrow. 'Not really, no. I haven't, anyway.'

'What do you want to do, Big Brother?' asked Renkotsu.

'Well,' Bankotsu paused 'I thought I might give your suggestion a try Renkotsu. I mean we'd have basically beaten the Lords of Japan into submission. So why not force them to kneel before us in defeat. It's a bit of payback for their treachery that I'd find satisfying.'

'If we all become Lords,' said Mukotsu, 'I could have my own harem.'

'And I could have all the hot guys I ever wanted to cut up.' reflected Jakotsu in a dreamy tone. 'Maybe you could watch Inuyasha.'

'I think I'll pass on that.' said Inuyasha.

'The idea of building an army of soldiers who wield my weapons to conquer the world holds a certain appeal.' reflected Renkotsu. 'Under Big Brothers leadership, of course.'

'Right.' said Ginkotsu.

'Yeah, that's a decent enough idea,' said Bankotsu, 'but who would we fight? I mean once we've conquered Japan, it'll take a while to get our armies up and running. We'd have to find someone to amuse us.'

'We could try going after demons, like the ones that attacked us.' suggested Jakotsu. 'I'd love to hear what their screams sound like.'

Bankotsu smiled. 'Hey, Kyokotsu, have you ever eaten demon?'

'Once or twice,' admitted Kyokotsu, 'it's how I got this big. Never a high class one, though.'

'Well, there is always a first time.' reflected Bankotsu. 'What about you, Inuyasha, what do you want to do once we win?'

The question, innocent though it was, shook Inuyasha to his core. He'd always wanted to be accepted when he was a kid, and now he was. He remembered his mother crying after the other kids had picked on him. Children Inuyasha could have thrown through a wall but could not for fear of the villager's anger. He wondered what she would have thought of his current company. He realized she might have been ashamed.

Yet really, before he'd met Bankotsu, he hadn't wanted to be accepted. Those dreams had died a mocking death years before. He had wanted power, a power so that no one could ever look down on him again. He'd had his chance for that when he held the sacred jewel within his grasp. And yet he had let it go, given it back to Kikyo to do with as she willed. He was satisfied with how much power he had now. It wasn't that important to him anymore.

He looked at his claws and realized that they reeked of blood and carnage. Tomorrow his hands would be stained with more blood than ever before. And then they would separate. Inuyasha knew about ruling a land. Once they actually got their castles and armies up and running, they wouldn't all be in the same place again. Nor was it likely that they would really conquer the world.

Chances were that if things went as planned, Inuyasha would end up ruling Japan. He'd outlive his comrades. It was a far more bitter realization than it would have been for some. He gazed at each of their faces in turn as they looked at him, almost concerned. 'I can't think of anything.' he admitted after a moment.

'Well that was anticlimactic.' reflected Renkotsu. 'I suppose there will be time for that later, though.'

'Don't worry about it,' said Bankotsu, 'we'll find something.'

One by one they all went to sleep, Inuyasha last of all. As he lay down on the side of a tree, a warm body rested against his back. Glancing back, he saw that it was Jakotsu. Neither one spoke, Inuyasha didn't really have anything to say. They lay against each other, the warmth of each others body keeping them warm. Slowly, they drifted off to sleep.

When he dreamed, he dreamed of the Priestess Kikyo.

That morning the army had made its camp within sight of Mount Hakurei. The tents were pitched throughout the fields, while the masked general made his own camp upon a hill. It had been a full week, and no sign had been seen of the Band of Seven, and it was becoming a problem. If their scouts did not find them soon, supplies would become an issue. They would have to either disband or bed down for the winter. Either event would be a disaster.

The samurai before him was a woman, holding in her hands a katana as she kneeled on one knee. Some ways behind her was a green haired individual who looked human. But closer examination revealed odd tones to his skin.

'You wish to be of service to us?' asked the masked general.

'Yes,' said the woman, 'I am Tsukiyomi, and my companion is a Hoshiyomi. We are here to help fight the Band of Seven.'

The masked general regarded both of them. 'Very well, I have heard of your exploits slaying demons, Priestess Tsukiyomi. I welcome any assistance you may offer, along with your companion.'

'Thank you.' she nodded her head.

Suddenly the flap of his tent was cast aside as a warrior rushed in. 'Sir! We've found the Band of Seven!'

That was good news. Now all they had to do was bring them to battle. 'Excellent,' said the masked general, 'prepare to pursue them!'

'I cannot, general!' replied the warrior.

'Why not?'

'Because they are heading right for us.'

The Band of Seven was on the hilltop above. Their forms were silhouetted against the rising sun. Together they cast a long and terrible shadow. Bankotsu had chosen his place well. The seven warriors stood looking down upon the enemies arrayed before them. Although their enemies could not have known, the Band of Seven was impressed.

The army arrayed before they was beyond massive. It reached out into the far distance. It was larger than any army they had ever faced. It was larger than any force which had been arrayed before in living memory. They were silent for a moment as the troops began to move.

'Wow,' said Jakotsu, 'that's a lot of people we'll have to kill. There have got to be some hot guys among them.'

'I must admit that I was not expecting that much resistance.' admitted Mukotsu.

'Bankotsu,' said Renkotsu, 'perhaps we should retreat. Winter is coming, and they cannot remain mobilized for long. We need only wait them out.'

'No,' said Bankotsu, 'we will stand our ground.'

At this moment, Myoga returned, and Inuyasha swatted him. 'Lord Inuyasha,' he said, 'I have counted the numbers of the samurai, and they are more than ten thousand. More are on their way now to reinforce them! We must withdraw.'

'We're not going anywhere unless Bankotsu says so.' snapped Inuyasha. 'You want to run; go ahead.'

'This is madness!' snapped Myoga. 'Seven?! Against ten thousand! Even your father would not have liked these odds. You are on the verge of annihilation, and you walk off to it now as though it were tea with your mother!'

'Leave me, be!' snapped Inuyasha.

'…As you wish,' said Myoga, before disappearing.

Beneath them, a force of archers had begun to array themselves in formation. A thought occurred. 'We're sitting ducks up on this hilltop.' said Inuyasha. 'We should probably take the fight down into the forests. That way that can't use volleys of arrows.'

'Ginkotsu, Mukotsu,' said Bankotsu, 'show these samurai what real firepower is all about.'

A gust of wind blew through their hair, as Mukotsu unleashed his poison gas. The green clouds wafted through the air down into the lines of soldiers, who began to choke. Screams echoed from the camp, as Ginkotsu opened fire upon the mobilizing samurai. Explosions echoed. Countless warriors were consumed in the fire and dirt. Others clutched their eyes and throats, as their faces became deformed. Yet despite this withering barrage soon archers began mobilizing below the hills. They launched arrows up at them. Bankotsu remained still as an arrow shot past his left ear.

'Let's pull back to the trees." said Bankotsu. "I think we've made our point.'

The group made their way down the hills, as the samurai rushed to stop them. As they neared the trees, a force of samurai rode around the hill, their spears in hand. Jakotsu and Inuyasha rushed them, blade and claws ready. However, Renkotsu was faster. Lighting a small device and hurling it into the midsts of the formation. There was a sound like lightning, and the neighing of horses as the samurai were consumed in an explosion.

'Renkotsu, no fair!' whined Jakotsu. 'We were going to kill them!'

'Stop worrying Jakotsu,' said Bankotsu, 'there is plenty more where that came from.'

They turned and made their way into the midsts of a vast bamboo forest. There they waited as the mustering hosts came against them.

'Those grenades are really something, huh?' asked Inuyasha.

'Yes,' said Renkotsu, a note of pride in his tone, 'I'd say I've outdone myself.'

A stone on the ground began vibrating as the armies of their enemies descended upon them in force. A tense silence fell over the Band of Seven, as they realized that this was it. Bankotsu walked before them, drawing his Banryu and pointing it at them. 'Band of Seven! My brothers of the sword, I'd rather fight beside you than by a thousand demons! Let no demon or man deny our power; we are kami of war!'

The countless colors of the Lords of Japan were visible coming through the bamboo. The Band of Seven readied their weapons as Bankotsu motioned through the forest.

'Our destiny awaits us!' asked Bankotsu. 'It lies over the corpses of that army?! A NEW SHOGUNATE IS COMING! AND WE WILL RULE IT!' A roar came from the Band of Seven as they charged into the bamboo to meet their enemy.

Lord Sesshomaru was not a person with any great ambition or dream. He held humans in contempt and was indifferent to his fellow demons. Nor did he desire rulership of the world or even its destruction.

That was why he wandered the lands with few personal attachments. He was a beacon of unyielding power. All either yielded to or died for their defiance.

Sesshomaru was tall, with flowing silver hair, and bore a garment of white fur.

Yet a certain curiosity had overtaken him. He had heard that his brother, whom he held in utter contempt, had taken up with a band of human murderers. Ordinarily, he would not have cared. However, this band had defeated several powerful demons. That had earned had gained his curiosity. As he came over the hill, he saw them.

They were facing a number of humans so great that Sesshomaru had never seen anything like it. He felt he might find killing them all a moderate inconvenience. His brother was amongst them, claws bared as he rushed at his enemies with a feral looked to him.

'My brother is in a hurry to die.' reflected Sesshomaru after a moment.

Then a massive swath of bamboo was torn asunder and with it an entire line of humans. His brother tore through the forces brought against him with his claws. The leader of the band cleaved great swaths apart with a sword. Explosions echoed throughout the hills, consuming trees and reducing them to splinters. Green clouds of poison wafted through the air. A glinting blade snaked through the bodies of men. A giant devoured men whole, crushing skulls and stomping horsemen.

The ground was stained red with blood, as the warriors stood untouched by any wound. Yet they had only faced the vanguard of the coming storm. Sesshomaru watched as yet another wave of samurai descended upon them. They rode in a loose formation. The explosions and buzz saws of the red-haired giant did not cause as many casualties. Though many died, whether by choking or trauma, many more reached their target. Many more replaced those who had fallen.

Sesshomaru became aware of a presence and glanced back to see a dark haired woman emerging. He sensed in her possession the sacred jewel, yet he had no interest in such an unreliable source of power. 'You are the priestess Kikyo then.'

'I am.' said Kikyo.

He had heard of her from other demons, who sought the Sacred Jewel. 'Have you come to hunt my brother?'

'I have come to observe. You need not concern yourself.' said Kikyo.

'Concern myself?' asked Sesshomaru. 'You think I would concern myself with a miserable half demon?'

The statement seemed to amuse her. 'I've heard about you, Lord Sesshomaru. You wander the lands aimlessly without subjects or goals and kill anyone who annoys you.' reflected Kikyo, voice mocking. 'You seem to have more in common with your brother than you would like to admit.'

That was it. Sesshomaru had little tolerance for vermin, and even less for those who presumed to speak to him. To be compared to the likes of Inuyasha was beyond insulting. He summoned into his hand a whip of yellow energy-

And found himself pinned to a nearby tree by eight arrows, fired with effortless speed.

Wait, that didn't happen. A human had not effortlessly defeated Sesshomaru. The very idea was beyond absurd. Which made it all the more perplexing. Sesshomaru looked down and realized that he was still trapped against the side of a tree. 'Impertinent vermin,' he hissed, 'you will die for-' He hauled on the arrows, and found that they held tight. '-you will pay for this-'

Kikyo sat down cross-legged and pretended as though he didn't exist.

This was something of an off day for Sesshomaru, this didn't usually happen.

Inuyasha tore through everything in sight, killing with every swipe. As he did so, he fell deeper and deeper into a rage. His mouth foamed as he tore out a man's throat with his teeth, and snapped another's neck. Jakotsu slashed with her blade, a savage joy possessing her. Soon they found themselves fighting back to back, slaying everything around them. Bankotsu could be seen a ways away, surrounded by corpses.

Soon the soldiers came to stop. They saw the endless hewn bodies of their comrades piling up. Yet the blades of the samurai were behind them. They cut down any who sought to flee, and the guns of Ginkotsu ravaged them whether they fought or fled. As they charged forward, Inuyasha felt a surge of pity for these men. The samurai were remaining behind the lines. They were sending endless swaths of drafted men to soften up their targets.

As he fought on, Inuyasha found himself losing all enthusiasm as he tore apart his enemies. Inuyasha felt a terrible sense of guilt for what was happening. These men did not want to be here. The samurai did.

Turning his guilt to fury, Inuyasha leaped over the enemy ranks. He rushed towards the samurai to descend on them. Tearing through them with his claws, he hacked and slashed his way through them.

'Hiraikotsu!'

Inuyasha was slammed by the boomerang once again and sent crashing into a hillside. The weapon withdrew to the hand of Shako. The half-demon arose to face the demon slayer, who was perched grim-faced upon Kirara.

'You again?!' snapped Inuyasha 'Don't you ever give up?!'

'Hiraikotsu!'

This time Inuyasha leaped over the incoming weapon. Kirira opened her mouth and breathed a swath of fire down upon him. The robe of the fire rat weathered it, and Inuyasha leaped through the flames at the cat. It flew just out of range.

'Hiraikotsu!'

So it continued, neither able to claim the others life. Inuyasha was driven gradually up the hill until he stood at the very peak. All around him, he could see armies marching. Mount Hakurei loomed to the north. Beneath its shadows, the samurai army was mustering its reserves. A gleaming ball of light shot through the sky from the camp, over the hill and into the fray below. Even now, many hundreds were being slaughtered.

From the light emerged, a person garbed in the clothes of a samurai, but she was female. In her hand was a katana and she stepped forward resolutely. Beside her, a green-haired demon faded into the shadows heading to confront Bankotsu. Meanwhile, the female samurai approached Mukotsu. The dwarf who stood upon a hill of deformed corpses, a canister of poison gas in hand.

Mukotsu raised the canister, but the samurai was too quick. She passed him by so quickly that it looked as though she had teleported. Mukotsu took a step forward before his head fell from his shoulders, and his body collapsed to the ground. Kyokotsu roared in rage and charged the samurai. But the soldiers behind him threw up many ropes and grapples. They caught him by the arms and legs and dragging him down to the ground where he too was beheaded by the samurai.

It had happened so quickly; he'd hardly had time to react. Two of his comrades were dead. Men he had fought with, been making plans with just the night before. 'NO!'

He rushed forward, meaning to gain vengeance.

'Hiraikotsu!'

He narrowly avoided having his skull caved in as the boomerang passed overhead again. Looking up, he saw Shako barring his way.

'If you feel like fighting someone else,' said Shako, 'then feel free to defeat me.'

'I don't have time to waste on you!' snarled Inuyasha, a red glow coming into his eyes. 'When I'm done with you, you will wish you had never even met me!'

And as the two enemies faced each other in mortal combat, the sky shattered.

Authors Note:

A bit of a cliffhanger ending here. All I can say is that this chapter was getting a bit on the long side, and I felt it would be best to make it a two-parter. The decision to add two filler arc characters into the story was made some time ago. I needed someone who could actually challenge the Band of Seven. In retrospect, I feel like their addition was a bit rushed, but there is no time to go back now. I may rewrite parts of this chapter later though.

As for the Kikyo Vs Sesshomaru fight, do I really need to explain myself? It's clear that Kikyo was at the zenith of her power when Inuyasha was only beginning to tap into his. Inuyasha was able to hold his own somewhat against Sesshomaru. So it stands to reason that Kikyo would easily defeat Sesshomaru. As for the lack of Jaken, I couldn't find a way to fit him into the scene. So let's just assume Sesshomaru left him behind.

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Inuyasha of the Band of Seven.