Author's Notes: Happy reading friends!
Delusions
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
It did not take them long to arrive at the mansion that Naraku had selected as his headquarters. They had taken their time in preparing to leave, mostly due to Inuyasha's gaping chest wound. It was healing quickly, but there was not enough time for the wound to close completely. It would just reopen anyway once he confronted Naraku, but Inuyasha wanted to give it as much of a chance to close up as possible. He absently clutched at his chest while they went over strategy and the others pretended not to notice. It was unlike him to show any weakness or sign of pain. Shippō also pointed out that it was unlike him to utilize strategy, which prompted a punch to the kitsune's head. "Let's not leave much up to chance here...Is that ok with you, runt?" Inuyasha growled. Shippō rubbed the sore spot on his head - Inuyasha definitely was not pulling any punches where Kagome was concerned - and nodded, "Yeah."
When they had spotted the mansion on the horizon they could feel Naraku's demonic taint permeating the area. It was nearly enough to make them sick with nausea. Inuyasha was immediately glad that he had sent Amaya back to her time. This was not something he would want her exposed to. The taint, the battle, the fear of the unknown...nothing. He had already exposed one child to too much. 'Sōrin,' he thought. Inuyasha had sent him away as well. He feared that if Sōrin were exposed to Naraku, that Sōrin would be eliminated in some fashion. He still worried that even with the distance between them that Naraku's destruction may be refracted upon Sōrin, who was essentially a part of Naraku. Too many ifs. That had never really bothered Inuyasha before, but there was just so much more at stake now.
Once they entered the perimeter of the mansion they could see Naraku waiting. To his left, his many incarnations were staggered and also waiting. Each of their countenances differed from eager to apathetic. The white-haired girl-child whose features were blank, yet she held a bundle close that appeared to be an infant, stood stoically. Kagura, who looked as if she preferred to be elsewhere and waved her fan as if the weather were warmer. Hakudoshi, who had a wicked sneer painted on his child-like face, had his hands planted on his hips in anticipation of battle. Lastly, Byakuya, who stood closest to Naraku, wore a coy smile.
Inuyasha mentally counted off the incarnations in his head. There had been more at one time, but they had been dispatched and were not a worry. He hoped that Naraku had not cooked up anymore. Before he could finish his thought, Inuyasha's eyes fell to the figure on Naraku's right. Kagome…
"Kagome?" Inuyasha heard Sango whisper in confused terror. "What's happened to her?" Shippō wondered aloud.
Her head was downcast, all of the fire from earlier seemed to be snuffed out. Naraku had his hand possessively on her shoulder and smiled when he saw Inuyasha notice. "You've walked right into my trap, Inuyasha," Naraku taunted.
"As if we had a choice fucker," Inuyasha spat back. Naraku chuckled, "Kukuku."
"Hyuck it up while you can before I smash your fucking face in," Inuyasha snarled. He pulled Tessaiga from its sheath and pointed the blade at Naraku. "Let her go and I will maybe reconsider smashin' in your face and just dismember you piece by piece and obliterate what's left."
"Careful now, Inuyasha, do you really think I would allow you here and not have a few "tricks" up my sleeve," Naraku cajoled, putting extra emphasis on "tricks". He pulled Kagome into a firmer embrace. Her arms hung by her sides, limp like a rag doll that swayed with forced movements.
"Get your hands offa her or I'll cut em off!" Inuyasha yelled. "Kagome!" Even after screaming her name, she did not respond. "What the fuck did you do to her?" Inuyasha yelled. He did his best to fight back a new wave of nausea, however, this feeling was not caused by the taint but from the realization that had just slammed into him with the force of one thousand tons. "You...you…"
"Cat got your tongue, mongrel? I see you've noticed that Kagome makes a pretty fine match for me," Naraku taunted, pulling Kagome closer.
Inuyasha bristled and his vision became hazy and red, his sword lowering to his side. The bloodlust was upon him; he wasn't sure he would be able to pull out of it, nor did he really think he wanted to. Tessaiga kept things in check, but he was on the brink where he wanted to thrust the sword far away and give in to the berserk fury.
"Inuyasha! Don't give in! That's what he wants," Miroku yelled. The monk ran over and placed his hand tentatively on Inuyasha's shoulder, risking himself while Inuyasha fought off his rising yōki. Inuyasha "GET OFFFFFAAA ME," Inuyasha growled through clenched teeth. Miroku did not let go, "Think of Kagome!"
Sango stepped over towards Miroku and instead of pulling Miroku away from Inuyasha and to safety in case he did toss Tessaiga, she grabbed Inuyasha's other shoulder, "Think of your children," she said gently, putting aside her fears for her family. Shippō stepped behind Inuyasha and squeezed Inuyasha's sword arm, "Think of us, too, Inuyasha!"
Naraku waved dismissively with his free hand, "Yes, listen to your friends, Inuyasha. They are the voice of reason aren't they?"
Inuyasha gained control of his breathing, which was still coming in short, ragged breaths. He glared at Naraku through narrowed eyes.
"I am glad they are here to witness me putting you in your place...nonexistance. It's a shame your brother decided to turn tail, though. I would have enjoyed sending the pair of you out at the same time. Another time, then," Naraku ministered to a glowering Inuyasha.
"You seem overconfident, Naraku, like you are compensating for something," Miroku said. He brought his hand up in an open threat to use his wind tunnel. The monk knew that Naraku had the Saimyōshō lurking around but perhaps there would be time to pull Naraku in. He was close enough in range to do so. However, as Naraku turned his head to glare at Miroku, still by Inuyasha's side, the poison insects appeared in the area. Their buzzing wings could be heard slicing through the silence of the area.
"I compensate for nothing cursed one," Naraku sneered. "How is your hand? You seem to be favoring it so," he taunted. Miroku grimaced and clenched his hand tightly.
"Fuck him, Miroku, he's just trying to scare ya," Inuyasha said in a gruff, yet comforting tone.
Naraku maintained his cruel smile, "Despite all of your efforts, you still fail. Come and see…." he held out his free hand and revealed a nearly complete Shikon Jewel. The surface of the jewel glowed with a menacing, dark color.
"It's only missing one shard!" Shippō exclaimed. Sango's eyes grew wide in disbelief, "How could this be? How could he have attained so many?" Naraku snapped his hand shut around the jewel, absorbing it back into his body.
"It was not overly difficult," Naraku postulated. "I merely employed the use of my subservient and loyal followers to flush out the remaining shards." He gestured towards his incarnations to his left. Kagura could be seen lowering her gaze in guilt for the part she played. The remainder either stood fast or smiled at the praise. "Speaking of followers, Kanna, your services will no longer be necessary. Bring him," Naraku commanded. The small, white-haired girl walked stoically forward. She reached Naraku and held out the bundle to Naraku. He took it from her and held it to his chest, absorbing it into himself.
"Did he...Did he just absorb an infant?" Shippō exclaimed with disgust.
"Another piece of myself that is best kept close at hand," Naraku said simply.
Miroku gasped, "Inuyasha! Your shard!" Inuyasha, the dawning of realization upon him, reached for the shard that was no longer where he had placed it for safekeeping. "What the?"
"You fools thought that you could hide your shard from me? I knew where it was all along. It is even more amusing because had you left it in the girl's care, it would have made it more difficult to attain, yes, but you brought it right to me," Naraku said with sadistic mirth.
"So what?" Inuyasha yelled. "We saw it. You're still missing one dumbass!"
"Am I though?" Naraku asked, tilting his head to regard Kagome. She still stood lifelessly to his side, within his dark embrace. "You are an idiot Inuyasha, to be so blind to what's right in front of you. You've played right into my hand exactly how I wanted you to."
"You're so full of shit!" Inuyasha shouted. "You have nothing! Let go of Kagome and quit wasting my time!"
"No, I've grown rather fond of her and she of me," Naraku taunted. "I find it only fair seeing as how you've stolen Kikyō from me." His sneer had dropped to a hateful glare.
"What?! You hate Kikyō. You destroyed her!" Inuyasha said. He watched as Naraku pulled Kagome straight in front of him, interjecting her in between himself and Inuyasha. His impulse was to cut away the tentacles that appeared and enclosed her, pulling her closer to Naraku.
"It was thanks to you that I discovered the error of my ways and came to terms with Kikyō. I could never have her, thanks to you. But I will settle for her reincarnation. She has such a fiery temper."
"Kagome! Snap out of it!" Inuyasha yelled.
Kagome's dull eyes brightened for a moment and she peered up through her lashes, "Inu...yasha?" she said quietly.
Dark clouds began to fill the sky, casting shadows all around. A distant rumble of thunder could be heard and rain began to fall, saturating the area. Naraku nodded towards the group and his incarnations drew their weapons.
A purple barrier popped up around Naraku and Kagome which then lifted into the air. "Follow if you dare, Inuyasha. As if you have a choice, hnhnhn," he chuckled. The pair flew off, away from the compound of the mansion.
"Dammit! Motherfucking coward!" Inuyasha said. He sheathed Tessaiga and crouched low for a jump. Before taking off, Inuyasha looked to his companions who were assembled around him.
"We can handle this lot, Inuyasha. Go save Lady Kagome," Miroku stated. "You know it's what he wants," Shippō said.
"Watch your asses," Inuyasha said and jumped off in pursuit of Naraku.
Her heart pounded inside of her chest as she watched the events unfold before her. She wanted to help, but Sōrin had held her back. He told her to wait in the distance, unnoticed. "Why?" she demanded. "They need our help now!" Why couldn't he see that?
"If we make a move now, then we give away our position and the element of surprise," he advised her. They were both crouched low beyond the tree line that lay less than a mile from the mansion. "It's already a surprise," she told him. "No one knows we came back."
"Exactly, and I aim to keep it that way until we can use it to our advantage," he said without looking at her. He stared straight ahead, watching the moves that were made. They were too far off to hear anything, but it looked like some form of a standoff. "Is this normally how epic battles go? Lots of standing around and talking?" she asked, annoyed. "We are wasting time!"
He chuckled, "You sound like him right now. Less talking and more fighting."
She crossed her arms, "No one is doing anything."
He did not respond and left her in silence for awhile. Clouds came from seemingly nowhere and unleashed pelts of rain upon them. It was cold and she pushed away from the urge to shiver, though the cold did not affect her much. She watched miserably as her father made wild gestures and Naraku hold her mother hostage. She was aggravated by the concept of doing nothing. There had to be something to be done. Finally, they witnessed Naraku enclose himself and Kagome within his purple barrier and lift off and away from the main group. Inuyasha followed after momentarily. Once they were gone, Sango initiated an attack with Hiraikotsu, leaving Naraku's remaining allies on the defensive. They watched as the battle broke out. "Shouldn't we help them?" Amaya called.
"No, we should follow Naraku," Sōrin said. He grabbed her hand and helped her up. He led the way as they cut around the mansion, around the perimeter of the fight to avoid notice.
"How do you know where they are going?" she asked cautiously. She hadn't given it much thought before but now he must have been following Naraku's connection. He ignored her question and carried on. They walked about a mile east of the mansion in the rain. Amaya could feel her clothes begin to grow heavy with rain. This would have been uncomfortable for her had she been human. She had been having a difficult time trying to quit comparing her new senses and invulnerability to her former self. She knew she had to be strong for her mother and that meant giving into what Sōrin had called 'yōki', her demonic powers. She had to trust them. And she was trying to do just that, except she had a sinking feeling of what was to come.
Sōrin glanced back at her from time to time, ensuring that she was still following behind. His hair had stuck to his forehead and face with the damp rain. Drops rivuleted down the sides of his face to accumulate in his soaked suikan. He suddenly halted and raised a hand. "They've stopped up ahead," he said quietly.
"Ok, now what" Amaya whispered. She drew close to hear his response. "We look for an opening and then make our move," he answered. "We need to keep low and quiet. And then hope that we are not noticed too quickly."
"Got it," Amaya said.
Together they moved at a snail's pace toward where Naraku had drawn Inuyasha. Amaya wondered why Naraku would pull away from the others when it would have made more sense to stay within the safety of his allies. She wanted to voice this to Sōrin but bit her tongue. He was more battle-hardened than she and would grasp the strategy at play far better than she could.
"Wait, what is this odd mist?" Amaya asked. They had walked upon a wall of purple haze that screened the area they were headed to. Sōrin looked around, "I'm not sure. It must be a barrier." Amaya reached her hand out to touch it. "Don't touch it!" Sōrin hissed, but it was too late, she had already put her entire hand through the barrier. "Some barrier," she said dismissively. "It doesn't even keep anything out." She walked through and looked at Sōrin from the other side. He stood and looked at the barrier warily. Tentatively, he reached and poked the barrier. When nothing harmful happened, he took a breath and stepped through to join Amaya.
"That's unusual," he said, looking back at the strange barrier. The inside of the barrier had mirroresque properties and he could see an unusual reflection. Amaya thought it looked like a sheen of oil, with a tint of rainbow spread upon its sickly surface.
Sōrin grabbed her shoulder and directed her towards Naraku's position. They walked several yards before stopping. Sōrin still had his hand on her shoulder when his eyes flew open in shock and his grip tightened. "Wha?" Amaya began.
"I'm so glad that you could make it Sōrin," a disembodied voice said.
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