AN: Two months since last chapter -yikes!- Sorry! Well, this is only 4 pages, but you'll see a new character, who's identity you are free to guess, but I'll reveal it in the next one. There are few clues in this one, possibly enough to identify the character. Another clue: This character is in at least one of my other fics. I've also translated a place of the legend of the hanyou (Naraku) into Japanese, but I'm not sure if it's correct. Feel free to notify me if I made a mistake on that one.
Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you like the story. I was actually surprised when I realised how popular this one is. I'm glad that I actually decided to publish this.
One more thing: the three disappearing cases I mentioned (or, Kagome did) in the last chapter, are real.
DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha isn't mine, but any original character you see is.
Enjoy!
Friendships Last Forever
Chapter 21
A white huge feather is floating above a field, with a female youkai onboard. She glances around her and curses silently. I can't believe the youkai sent me here so soon after his return.
Kagura shakes her head, remembering what he wanted her to do. Sesshoumaru had told her to get to the river and try to locate a human man that had been there earlier. He had forgot to tell her how she was supposed find the human.
She sighs. At least she was free of Naraku now. Her train of thought is stopped as she notices a man sitting by the river. This aura… But he's dead! Kagura can feel fright and hatred towards the man who once held her heart – literally.
She lands her feather somewhat behind the man and verily approaches him, her fan open and covering lower half of her face. She's ready to use it should she need to. Never mind that Sesshoumaru had only wanted her to keep an eye on the man. She starts as she hears a familiar, yet unfamiliar voice of her former master.
"Ah, Kagura. How nice of you to come to see me." He turns around to meet her frightened gaze. Her eyes widen as she realises that this truly is Naraku. Well, part of him at least. He looks human, and she can't sense any youki.
His voice breaks her reverie. "Aren't you going to say 'hello', Kagura? True, I don't hold your heart anymore. That cursed miko made sure of that."
She readies her fan, deciding to finish him off right now. After all, he's a human now, and wouldn't be able to harm her anymore. Then she is surprised when the look on the man's face turns amused. "What's so funny? Dance of Blades!"
Her wind blades go at the man, but he just smirks. "My dear Kagura, you should've remembered who I was, and still am."
Kagura's eyes widen in terror, as a purification barrier surrounds the man, purifying the blades upon touch. Then she pulls her feather from her hair, in an attempt to escape, but is stopped as a group of men surround her. Each of them is carrying sutras.
She looks from the men to the one who looks like Naraku, as she realises that a holy barrier is holding her in place. "What are you doing? I don't work for you anymore! You can't keep me here!"
He chuckles. "Wrong, Wind Sorceress. I will keep you as long as I like. It's good that I was able to get my hands on these sutras. Of course, they can't hold a taiyoukai, but you're not that strong."
She glares at him. "What are you up to now?"
Another chuckle. "The Sacred Jewel, of course."
"The Jewel is missing, no one knows where it is." Suddenly her eyes widen as she realises what he will have to do to find the Jewel. "You want Kagome."
He smirks. "Where is she, Kagura? I know that I had her, but the taiyoukai took her from me. Is she still with him?"
She shakes her head. "I don't know. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you."
His expression turns into that of mock pitying. "Then I have no alternative, Kagura. You will die here. But not yet. It appears that the two priestesses combined their powers with the Shikon, unintentionally, to defeat me."
Knowing that she will die anyway, Kagura glares at him. "Good for them. Why are you telling me this? Just kill me already."
For a moment he looks taken aback, but he recovers quickly. "You don't care about life anymore? Well, death will come soon enough. Before that… Soon, I will tell you why I'm telling you these things. However, that comes later. Now I'll tell you what happened at the village."
Kagome feels comfortable. It's warm and soft. Suddenly she frowns. Wait a minute… Soft and warm? I was kidnapped, and Sesshoumaru saved me… This thought wakes her up completely, and she discovers that she is in a room, lying on a futon, and she's not alone. Right next to her is kneeling Kohaku, seemingly asleep.
Slowly she sits up and looks around in the room, but there are only empty walls, futon and Kohaku in the room with her. Where am I? Is this the Eastern Palace again? She starts when a familiar voice speaks up.
"How are you feeling?" Her eyes meet those belonging to Kohaku. "Lord Sesshoumaru brought you -us- into his domain after we were attacked, and you were injured. His healer was able to save your life."
"He saved me, again?" She sighs. "He must think I'm a trouble magnet…" She looks at him. "Kohaku, do you remember anything from the time you were under Naraku's control? Do you remember your sister Sango?"
He bows his head. "I remember some things. Sango, our village, Rin… But rest, is hazy. Lord Sesshoumaru did something, saying that some things are better being forgotten."
Suddenly she pulls him into a hug, trying to soothe him with her words. "Since Sango isn't here, you can trust me, okay? Sesshoumaru did what he did for a good reason. Remembering everything might be too painful to remember. After all, you were you only when you weren't controlled by-."
She is suddenly interrupted by a shoji screen sliding open and someone entering the room. Kagome looks up to see Sesshoumaru standing by the doorway. She retreats from Kohaku and smiles at the youkai. "Thank you for saving my life, again."
The taiyoukai inclines his head before meeting her gaze. "I have enough honour not to allow my allies to get killed, if I can prevent it. Are you feeling well?"
Kagome nods. "Yes, thanks to your healer, apparently. Also, thank you for doing what you did to Kohaku."
Again the youkai inclines his head. "I will not let the hanyou get his way. He wanted to taint the boy, now he can not."
Kagome is quiet for a moment, two males in the room looking at her, as she is trying to find the right words to ask what she wants to ask. After a while she speaks. "Umm… Sesshoumaru? I was wondering when I could get back to Kaede's village. I'm sure my friends will get worried."
He narrows his eyes slightly. "You will stay here."
Her eyes widen. "What? Why?"
The youkai approaches her, coming to a halt next to still kneeling Kohaku. He has a determined look in his eyes as he towers over her. "Kagome, the Shikon is still missing, and Naraku lives. He needs you to find it. I will not let him get what he desires. Also, if you are here, he will eventually come to get you. When he does, I will kill him."
Kagome narrows her eyes. "You can't tell me what to do!"
Sesshoumaru shrugs. "This is for your protection, as well. If Inuyasha finds you here, you will meet again." He sighs. "You are still not fit to travel or fight, in any case."
She looks at his seemingly emotionless eyes, seeing a bit of concern in there. Finally she sighs. "Alright, I will stay here for a while longer."
He is about to say something but suddenly he smells someone familiar approaching and turns his head at the doorway. The two humans exchange confused glance before they hear a happy squeal, just a moment prior a little girl rushes inside the room, and next to Sesshoumaru.
Rin looks at the youkai, smiling at him, before she looks at the older girl, flashing her a wide smile. "Rin is glad to see that the nice lady is alright. Rin remembers you."
Inuyasha's group, accompanied by the two taiyoukai, have checked all places nearby the Kaede's village, but to no avail. There are no clues explaining what happened to Kagome. So, the extended group is now inside Kaede's hut, discussing of what to do next.
"Should we go back to the village where we fought Naraku?" Sango is seemingly worried for her dear friend and it can be heard in her voice.
Shira shakes her head. "Sesshoumaru went that way." A realisation hits her. "Inuyasha, I think we should visit your half brother."
The hanyou glares at her. "Why?"
She sighs. "It is really simple. Why would someone kidnap Kagome?"
Miroku replies before Inuyasha can. "Because now that Kikyo is gone, she is the only one who can see the Jewel."
The taiyoukai smirks. "True. If Naraku is still alive, he will go after her. Possibly one of his underlings or he himself has captured the girl."
Inuyasha looks at her confused. "But what that has to do with Sesshoumaru?"
She sends him a flat look. "Sesshoumaru went to the village the Shikon was last seen, remember? So, if Kagome's kidnappers took her that direction, he might have caught their scents. We should try, at the very least."
Inuyasha just lets out a 'keh', but doesn't oppose the plan. At least not until a thought hits him. "Shira, how are you planning to find him? It's not like he comes when called."
The taiyoukai smirks. "We'll go to the Western Palace. If he's not there, then we go to the village the battle ensued at, and try to find his traces from there."
Now this decided, the group begins to pack up. Soon enough they are heading towards Sesshoumaru's home, Sango riding on Shira's back, Miroku on Kirara, and Inuyasha on Sheiji's back, as they decided to go by air.
It the castle that belongs to the Lord and Lady of the East, an odd child arrives at the gate. She is basically colourless, with a mirror and a face void of any emotions. She stops in front of the guards as they point their spears at her.
She looks at them and speaks with emotionless voice. "I must meet the Lord of the Eastern Lands. This concerns the Shikon no Tama."
Hearing these words, the guards hurry to escort her to their Lord. As soon as they have left her to his throne room, she speaks to the Lord. "I came because of the Shikon no Tama."
The Lord glances at the odd girl. "Who are you? What do you know of the Jewel?"
She pulls a pink sphere from the folds of her kimono. "This is the Jewel. My name is Kanna, and I'm the void, the first youkai Naraku made with this very artefact."
He glances at the Jewel, eyes widening slightly. "How did you get that?"
Kanna's eyes flicker towards her mirror before going back to the taiyoukai. "I was guided to it. Please, take care of it." With this, she turns to leave, but is stopped when a pink light fills the room. When the light is out, the three youkai in the room are staring at the being that stands in the middle of the room, the Shikon in a clawed hand. The look on the being's face is confused.
The confusion is replaced by a frown, until the youkai turns to look at the two taiyoukai. "It has been a while." Now the face is graced by a grin.
The two youkai walk side by side at the garden of the Eastern Palace. The Lord stops in front of a statue of a dragon. His companion stops by his side. The Lord speaks first. "So, the Shikon brought you here… Why?"
The other youkai's gaze shifts from the statue to the Lord. "You did make a wish, did you not?"
The Lord frowns. "I never touched the Jewel, but yes, I wished that you were here. You would know what to do. You always did."
His companion looks serious. "Your wish was made true by the Shikon." The youkai lifts the said object in front of pair of eyes with slit pupils. "It does not seem tainted, yet the Shikon is still here. I was under the impression that the Jewel would be purified by an unselfish wish."
The Lord looks at the other youkai. "Perhaps it is still needed here. I have been informed of a legend that this Jewel might have something to do with. A hanyou after it was said, in the legend, to be defeated at Mon he Tengoku (Gate to Heaven). It was believed that the hanyou was defeated very recently, however it seems that he still lives. It is possible that you are needed to defeat him."
The other youkai turns to look at the statue. "I am willing to offer my assistance in order to defeat this hanyou. What is that you wish for me to do?"
The two youkai lock gazes. "I want you to take that girl to the Western Lands, and to the Lord of the said territory, Sesshoumaru. He seems to be very eager to find the hanyou, and to slay him."
The other youkai smirks. "The West, huh? Very well, I will take her."
Kanna and the youkai, who has the Jewel in the safety of fine kimono, have travelled for two hours before the youkai suddenly stop. They have arrived to a clearing near the border of the Western Lands. They are not alone, however.
The two stand by the clearing, staring at an odd group which consists of two ryuu taiyoukai, two humans, neko youkai, a kitsune, and a hanyou with dog ears.
Inuyasha stares at the two, recognising Kanna, but unwilling to attack, lest he wants to fight with the youkai who is standing on the void youkai's side, still slightly in front of her. He cannot miss the feeling of déjà vu, as his eyes are locked with the other one's eyes.
From the group, Miroku is the first to speak. He had noticed that this one is not among the weaker, or even among the way-stronger-than-most youkai, and also he is trying to avoid fight, knowing that if Inuyasha was to speak, a fight might just to be expected. "We need the information the girl has. Is it possible that you could give her over to us without resistance?"
The youkai glances at the man who spoke, recognising him as a houshi. "I am taking this girl to the Western Lands, to Sesshoumaru, the Lord of the said lands. You are free to join me, but I will not give her to you." The youkai had been talking to Miroku, but he's looking at Inuyasha.
The two taiyoukai siblings are staring at the youkai, knowing immediately who is standing in front of them, but they decide to keep silent, for now. Shira, however, decides to speak up, after all, they were heading there anyway, and very few would attack with this youkai anywhere in the vicinity.
"We would like to join you in this journey. We are heading to the Western Palace ourselves, to meet Lord Sesshoumaru." She ignores surprised stares of her companions.
So, a moment later, the bigger group crosses the border to Sesshoumaru's domain, and heads towards the castle.