And here's chapter twenty one! Hope you'll enjoy this one.
A big thank to Karkatsbabe for the lovely review. Fear not my friend, Kohaku is not dead! He has just been paralysed by Naraku's evil will when the hanyo infected the shikon shard. In this chapter he's well and moving.
Just a reference before letting you read: this chapter is based of episodes 15 and 17. Now enjoy!
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Chapter twenty one
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Hikaru listened distractedly to Miroku, Sango and Kagome's chatter, munching on her meal. Rin by her side was equally as silent, both girls deep in thought.
The scent of ice and poison reached her nose and Hikaru's ears perked up. She got up and looked to her right to see Sesshomaru walking to them.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin noticed, getting up to stand beside the hanyo girl.
Even if Hikaru was happy to see him too, she didn't like the look on his face, nor the aura she sensed around Tenseiga.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha faced off and the demon lord drew Tenseiga.
"What are they doing?" Rin asked curiously.
"I don't know." Hikaru whispered "I think Sesshomaru-sama wants to fight Inuyasha."
The hanyo tried sending wind scar, but nothing came out of Tetsusaiga.
Hikaru gasped in surprise when Tenseiga transformed just like Tetsusaiga and Sesshomaru threw a perfect replica of the wind scar attack.
"How is it possible?" Rin asked, bewildered.
"What the heck is happening Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha yelled, jumping away from the attack.
A smell of miasma reached Hikaru's nose and she looked up to see a man flying on a paper crane.
"Byakuya of the dreams!" Hikaru's heard everyone exclaim.
She exchanged a looked with Rin. This was new. They had never seen this man before. Was he another incarnation like Kagura? Probably.
"I gave Sesshomaru a fragment of Kanna's mirror." The male explained.
"That's why Sesshomaru's sword was able to steal Tetsusaiga's abilities." Shippo understood.
"Sessshomaru-sama why?" Rin exclaimed sadly "Naraku tried to kill Kohaku. Please don't listen to someone like Naraku."
Hikaru could hear Byakuya mutter something but the male was too far for her to hear. He fished a gourd out of his cloth and sent a spray liquid around Sesshomaru and Inuyasha.
The liquid released steam, surrounding the two demons.
"The moon?" Kagome said, startled, when a full moon formed and rose in the sky before disappearing, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru with it.
"Where did they go?" Shippo asked.
"Beats me." Byakuya said, reminding everyone of his presence.
"Damn you!" Sango swore before throwing her hiraikotsu.
The male disappeared before the weapon reached him.
"Hikaru-chan." Rin whispered to her friend, grabbing tightly Hikaru's hand "I didn't like how Tenseiga looked."
Hikaru blinked and turned curious eyes to her "Looked?"
Her friend nodded, biting her lips "I think…It was dying."
Hikaru frowned. This was certainly mysterious.
Another thing bothered her. Every living thing had a spark in itself, a bright candle burning inside their chest from their birth to their death. She remembered her mother telling her she was seeing the will to live, a very common sight in their species.
But this Byakuya. She saw nothing. This man wanted to disappear.
He had no will to live.
"I hope Inuyasha's alright." Kagome said worriedly.
"Sesshomaru-sama…" Rin whispered.
The little black haired didn't understand. Naraku was so evil. He kidnapped them, almost killed Kohaku and reeked of death enough to make her sick while being several metres away.
She felt a warm hand in hers and turned to see Hikaru smiling at her.
Hikaru, her friend, her sister. She was aloof most of the times, shy and wild to anybody but close ones, but the girl had always a smile for her. Rin smiled back and squeezed her hand.
The sky darkened suddenly and Kuro poked his head out of Hikaru's kimono to hiss warningly.
A huge bolt of blue lightning crashed just beside them.
"Totosai-san!" Kagome exclaimed when they saw the blacksmith on his caw appear from it.
"Look like it's already begun." The old demon said as if he was alone.
"Can you tell us what's happening in there?" Kagome asked urgently undeterred.
"You want to see?"
"Yes please." Miroku asked politely.
"Here." Totosai hit his cow's head with his hammer. The three eyes of the steed lit up and projected an image of Sesshomaru.
"Sesshomaru-sama."Rin whispered before exchanging a worried glance with Rin.
They concentrated back immediately on their lord's image.
::0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o::
Sesshomaru stepped gracefully from meido, barely glancing as Inuyasha fell to the earth in a heap.
He felt strangely empty.
"Sesshomaru-sama."
He glanced right to see Totosai, Jaken, Hikaru and Rin running to him.
"Are you okay with what has taken place Sesshomaru?" Totosai asked.
"Sesshomaru-sama." Jaken whined, tears in his bulbous eyes "I'm very depressed. For Tenseiga to get absorbed into Tetsusaiga…"
Hikaru and Rin sent him weird look. The kappa was sometimes so strange.
"I don't care. We're leaving."
He turned away and began walking.
"Wait Sesshomaru." Totosai said "I know you're still not satisfied."
Sesshomaru stopped but didn't turn back.
"Take that with you." Without looking Sesshomaru knew the blacksmith was pointing to the sword lying a bit away from them "It fell from the Underworld."
"That's…" Hikaru whispered.
"Tenseiga." Rin whispered back with a relieved sigh "And it isn't dying anymore."
Hikaru smiled "I never saw it glow so brightly."
Rin smiled back, both girls glad.
Totosai went to retrieve the blade "Though you can't use this sword to cut through anything, it is still Tenseiga, a blade that can heal."
"Are you asking me to accept it and travel around the world helping other?" Hikaru and Rin clearly felt the underline tone of disgust in his voice "Don't be ridiculous." With that said the lord began walking away.
"Please wait for me Sesshomaru-sama!" Jaken exclaimed, running after him.
"Hey…" Totosai tried half-heartedly.
"Ano…"
The blacksmith turned to see two pair of eyes glancing up at him inquisitively.
"Can we have the sword?" Rin asked.
Totosai blinked before dropping the blade in her waiting arms.
"Thank you." Hikaru said in a barely audible voice.
"We'll give him the sword when he is in the right mood." Rin informed him while the two went to catch up with their lord. Kohaku was waiting for them.
"Sis, take care!" He yelled to his sister before escorting the girls.
::0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o::
He was looking at the sky, but he wasn't seeing the stars, much less the moon. He was deaf to anyone in the camp, and didn't feel the flames' warmth on his forearms.
Father…
Was it his role from the beginning? Just a springboard for his brother?
All his life he had sought out his father's approval. He wanted to make him proud, but the only heirlooms he received were Tenseiga and a broken kingdom.
Inuyasha was given everything he needed, from his fire rat robes to Tetsusaiga.
He was now left with nothing.
What was strength, in the end, when he felt so used and tired of trying to decipher his father's will?
"Sesshomaru-sama?"
He blinked, twice, before looking down to see Rin and Hikaru staring up at him. Their eyes, a pair golden brown irises and the other ice blue, looked at him up with concern.
"Sesshomaru-sama." Rin's expression morphed into a bright grin. The little girl was literally exuding warmth "When Rin and Hikaru grow up, we want to be as strong as Sesshomaru-sama!"
"Yes." Hikaru beside her nodded determinedly, her grin not as bright but still strong "Sessshomaru-sama is the greatest."
Amber eyes stare at them, unbelieving and unsure.
This assurance, the trust and…dare he say…love, shined in their eyes. They looked up to him without fear, without deceit.
Perhaps it was that, in the first place, that made him keep them. Rin was the first to look at him fully without fear, and together they were the first to give him their love unconditionally.
Since very young he had disliked the notion, finding it useless, unreal, growing up in a court where people were only after strength or fame… but perhaps, just perhaps…love wasn't such a foolish notion after all.
It was the girls' turn to blink in surprise when they felt his arm pass around their shoulders and bring them against his chest, careful of his armour. However they soon let go and burrowed in his warmth, big grin on their face.
The lord's own expression softened to a point it was visible to everyone and even Jaken knew better than to disturb the rare moment, the kappa silently crying. The corner of the lord's lips twitched upward and he tightened his hold ever so slightly.
To hell with his father and the endless question that accompanied his memory. There were more important things.
Rin and Hikaru wanted to be like him, like he wanted to be like his father when he himself was a pup. He would see to it that he gave them the best example.
And he wouldn't make the same errors as his sire.
"You are already very strong." His voice carried to the girls' ears only, and both practically glowed from his praise.
::0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o::
Dark clouds loomed from the horizon, hiding the sky from view.
"What's happening?" Hikaru said quietly, eyeing worriedly the weather "Is it another demon trying to challenge Sesshomaru-sama?"
"No…" Rin shivered and crossed her hands on her shoulders "This is something else. It is saturated with death."
Hikaru looked worriedly at her friend, but before she could say anything more, Sesshomaru spoke up.
"Stand back."
Before they could obey however, a demon appeared in a flash of lightning.
Hikaru was overwhelmed by the smell of miasma mixed with something much more potent, as if death, blood and darkness had been put together to form one unique smell. She coughed from its intensity.
"Who are you?" Sesshomaru asked, his eyes narrowing "An incarnation of Naraku?"
The unknown demon smirked and as an answer extended his arm. It shot right past Sesshomaru, and Hikaru had just the time to throw up the thickest wall of ice she could form.
The wall cracked, thinned to the last inch upon impact, but miraculously held. Kohaku had time to join the girls on AhUn and the dragon steed flew up.
The two opponents stayed still for a moment, the unknown demon talking with an arrogant smirk on his face.
Sesshomaru rushed forward, evading his opponent's attacks before ramming his hand into his chest.
"He did it!" Rin cheered.
"Something's wrong." Kohaku said with a frown.
"What is it?" Hikaru asked worriedly.
"Sesshomaru-sama's arm should have pierced right through his body. But it looks like it has been swallowed."
To prove his point spears appeared from the demon's back and Sesshomaru retreated just in time, revealing the scabbed flesh of his forearm.
"His arm!" Rin exclaimed.
"I never thought a poison could arm Sesshomaru-sama so much." Hikaru whispered fearfully.
"Rin, Hikaru, bend down."
On instinct the girls obeyed and Kohaku through his weapon at the demon before propelling himself forward.
Hikaru noticed the demon's smirk "Kohaku no!"
Said demon sent tentacles to trap the boy and began defiling the shard in his neck. Sesshomaru tried to reach him but got stabbed in the arm.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin exclaimed, gripping Hikaru's arm tightly.
Hikaru barely saw a red blur and Inuyasha cut the tentacles. Sesshomaru jumped away and the rest of his group gathered around Kohaku. Hikaru was very worried about the boy. Already he had survived Naraku's attack, Kagome purifying the shard in his neck enough for him to move. But there had to be some sort of limit somewhere.
"Do you think they're gonna be alright?" Rin asked worriedly, eyeing the group before directing her gaze to Sesshomaru and Inuyasha busy fighting.
"Don't worry." Hikaru reassured, sounding a lot more confident than she felt "Sesshomaru-sama is strong, and Inuyasha too."
She directed AhUn to the ground, both girls worried about Kohaku. Sesshomaru forcefully healed his wound and transformed, beheading the demon. They landed as miasma began to spread.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha cursed "Miroku, Sango! Get out of here!"
"We need to go." Miroku said as he hauled an unconscious Kagome in his arms "Hikaru-chan, Rin-chan, can I borrow AhUn?"
The girls nodded mutely and the man put Kagome on the twin headed dragon before getting on himself and stearing AhUn upwards. Sango did the same on Kirara with Kohaku and Shippo.
"We left Jaken-sama behind." Rin said.
"He should be fine." Miroku reassured.
Suddenly tentacles spread to them.
"He's coming after us!" Shippo exclaimed.
"He must be after Kohaku's shard." Hikaru said.
Inuyasha jumped and cut the tentacles. The demon laughed.
"Cut as much as you want, I only borrowed this body."
Inuyasha growled "Who the hell are you!"
Tentacles shot up and encircled Sesshomaru, immobilising him. Rin gasped and held Hikaru's arm tighter. The hanyo girl barely registered, her eye never leaving their entrapped lord.
"Since you asked, I will tell you." The unknown demon smirked "I am Magatsuhi."
"Magatsuhi?" Shippo asked curiously.
"It's the evil part of the shikon jewel." Sango provided helpfully.
"Yes." Miroku added "It must have manifested itself as a demon."
"Oh no!" Rin exclaimed "It's trying to trap Sesshomaru-sama!"
The tentacles enveloped the dog and soon the girls couldn't see him anymore.
In a flash of light Sesshomaru burst from the cocoon in his human form.
He sent a glare at Jaken who tensed.
"I-I w-wasn't doubting you mylord!"
"He was doubting Sesshomaru-sama." Rin said. Hikaru behind her nodded.
"Their minds seem strangely connected." Miroku noted.
Inuyasha tried to use meido zangetsuha but Magatsuhi splitted his body into several parts.
"Make use of meido zangetsuha as well." Magatsuhi taunted "But wherever you point it, you'll end up killing your friend."
"Follow me." The group turned to Sesshomaru and the demon lord began slashing away the tentacles, creating a path.
"I see." Sango realised "If we allow ourselves to get surrounded…"
"Won't you end up hurting your friends?" Magatsuhi cut in "Well? How long will you endure?"
"Is Sesshomaru risking himself for the sake of Inuyasha and the rest of us?"
"Don't you know?" Rin said, looking up to him "Sesshomaru has always been kind."
"There's more to someone than what meets the eyes." Hikaru said in a quiet voice.
Miroku looked at her thoughtfully.
"You'll have to defend yourselves from now on." The demon lord said before jumping upwards, straight toward Magatsuhi's head.
"Are you an idiot Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha yelled "Come back!"
The demon lord drew his sword.
"Tenseiga?" Miroku said.
"He's using it?" Sango asked, bewildered.
"That's just a healing sword." Jaken added "Why is he using it?"
"Isn't it a piece of junk that can't cut through anything?" Shippo asked.
"No." Inuyasha said seriously "It seems it has the power to cut through something."
Rin and Hikaru exchanged a silent glance. Their lord apparently had a plan.
Sesshomaru cut something out of thin air and a face appeared.
"Why you…!"
"What's that?!" Jaken exclaimed.
"Is it Magatsuhi's true form?" Sango asked.
"I see." Miroku said "Magatsuhi was formed by amassing the souls of demons in the shikon jewel. Tenseiga will work against anything that isn't of this world."
Unfortunately Magatsuhi drew a shield from Naraku's body. Suddenly a tentacle pierced the lord's chest before he could dodge.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Hikaru couldn't discern her voice from Rin's.
Tentacles surrounded Sesshomaru and enveloped him. Inuyasha went to try to free him, but his attempts were futile.
Rin and Jaken's voice buzzed in Hikaru's ears, muffled by the cold weight that had seized her whole being.
Her father, her mother, and now Sesshomaru. Hikaru barely felt the tears trailing down her cheek.
Why, why everyone in the end left her?
"…Why…?" Her voice was barely audible, a broken sob lurching out of her throat like a wound spurting blood.
Suddenly a light escaped from the cocoon, almost blinding her. The flesh exploded, and Hikaru could make out a form.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin exclaimed happily, Jaken crying tears of happiness beside her.
Relief flooded Hikaru like warm water, escaping from her eyes without stopping.
He was alive, he was alive. She wasn't alone again.
She felt her knees tremble and a weight settling around her shoulders. Without looking she hugged Rin back as tightly.
Sesshomaru slashed upward and the light destroyed the flesh cocoon, disintegrating totally the body part until there was nothing left. Out of the light came a new arm holding a sword.
Hikaru vaguely heard Totosai speaking.
"Bakusaiga." Rin repeated, sharing a teary glance with her friend.
Sesshomaru slashed Magatsuhi's head, destroying the body.
He came back down to the earth and blinked when he felt two weights collide with his legs. He looked down to see Rin and Hikaru, Rin looking up to him with teary eyes.
"Are you alright Sesshomaru-sama?" She asked "We were so worried!"
"We thought we would never see you again." Hikaru's voice was muffled, the girl's face pressed against his pant leg.
Never before had they been so clingy. Was it because…?
Rin and Hikaru blinked when they felt a hand caressing their head. They looked up to him and gave him a smile, albeit a teary one.
His own expression softened before he resumed his stoic mask and turned to Totosai who had appeared.