Chapter 38 – A Dangerous Path Part I
Sighing once again, Kanna said, "As I have told you before, Inuyasha, the legend says that there are a certain amount of chambers before the actual 'River of Fire'. These chambers can be so hot a ningen would instantly burn to ashes, or colder then any frozen winter you've seen. The first chamber is said to be hotter then hell, though any demon can with stand its heat, while a hanyou would make it through merely wishing for water. A ningen? Well, it is said that they would not make it halfway across the stones that line the chamber.
"However, Inuyasha, you cannot believe all that legend says, for not all of it is necessarily true. That would be the main reason as to why they call it legend in the first place. Though, it is said that all legend came from something true, but merely… formed into something close, but most definately not the same as the true information." Stretching her claws out before her, Kanna blinked a few times, trying to remember something that she'd forgotten a while back. Probably when they started traveling toward the mountain where the entrance lie, but she couldn't exactly remember what it was.
Inuyasha snorted, folding his arms over his chest, while watching the demoness's movements with curious eyes. "Feh, I know that, wench," he growled, trying to tell himself that he did not feel anything for this female. In fact, he wasn't even sure if he was beginning to feel anything. He felt like he knew this feeling, that he'd felt it before, but he could not grasp where and when. The two most important things, since he might be able to change his current path and form the feeling into what he wanted in the first place.
His mind had become so confused after the arrival of that bitch, Katana. It was all her fault that he couldn't figure out why he felt this way. It was all her fault that he couldn't stop moving and getting stronger. It was all her fault that Kagome was gone. It was all her fault that Kikyo, though he hadn't wanted her as his mate, was killed when she returned. It was all her fault that he was currently walking toward this damn place that was said to be almost impossible to enter, because his damn sword had decided that it didn't want him as its master. It was all; ok, he'd admit it, it was his fault that he'd attacked her with the Tetsusigia in the first place, causing her blood to destroy his father's bond to the damn thing.
Still, the question remained: what was he feeling, and why did he feel it in the first place if it was so badly written?
Batting her eyelashes, Kanna turned toward her hanyou companion, before saying, "Then why did you ask, Inuyasha?"
Hiding his face, which had begun to form a bright blush that spread across his cheeks like a wild fire, Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders upward. "I didn't mean about the chamber stuff, Kanna. I meant I knew about the whole legend crap, that's all," he mumbled. Ashamed that this incarnation could make him feel this way, Inuyasha hide his face more when she lowered hers to meet his eyes.
Straightening her neck, Kanna nodded, saying, "Oh, that's fine, Inuyasha. I just wanted to know why you'd say you knew something when you'd asked about it. I didn't realize that you were talking about legends, instead."
She tensed, feeling a small amount of demonic power coming toward him. Narrowing her purple eyes, Kanna stopped walking suddenly, glancing around the forest. Her sudden movement caused the one-sided Inuyasha, who was currently blind in his left eye, to nearly walk into her. She continued to search for the demon, knowing it was small, and that it might be able to cause more damage then its size seemed to foretell. She was about to move forward to stop the youkai from coming any closer when she heard the excited cry it gave off.
"Master Inuyasha, I've finally found you!" Myouga cried, leaping up from the ground. He gripped Inuyasha's haori before jumping up to his face, where he attached himself to his young master's nose, and quickly went to feed on his blood. However, like many times before, Myouga suddenly felt a rather large item slam over him, before he began floating down to the ground.
"Myouga?" Inuyasha asked, confusion written strongly in his voice, before he glanced down to find the old flea sitting on a leaf close by his leg. The light prick on his nose still tingled a little, and he wrinkled his nose, before continuing to wait for the flea to say something.
Myouga glanced up at Inuyasha, before saying, "Ohhh, you can be very cruel, Master Inuyasha, but I never expected such a welcome after such a long time!" Two of his four arms waved above his head, before he turned his head from the inu-hanyou, narrowing his eyes in a fake show of anger. He could never stay angry with his lord's son, never, no matter how hard he tried. However, the young hanyou was violent, and rash, probably why he'd heard the sweet tasting miko left him for better things.
Glancing at his young master through the corner of his eye, Myouga blinked in surprise. Turning toward the inu-hanyou the flea gasped, before jumping up to stare into the glazed over eye Inuyasha now contained. "Master Inuyasha, what happened, you were so healthy and ripe the last time I saw you!" He never expected InuTaisho's son to become blind in one eye, but as he waved his small arm in front of the dulled pupil he noticed that Inuyasha did not seem to register it, before he felt something grip him by the back of his clothing.
Glancing at the fingers holding him, Myouga saw a female, her fingers wrapped around him lightly. Smiling like a gentleman, Myouga gave a small, awkward bow, before saying, "Ah… what a lovely young lady." Turning to Inuyasha, he said, "Have you finally decided to mate, Master Inuyasha? A fine choice if you ha—"
Kanna blinked when Inuyasha suddenly grabbed the flea youkai, before squeezing him between his claws. Gasping a little, she frowned, "Don't be so rude, Inuyasha."
Giving her a small glance, Inuyasha said, "Trust me, Kanna, you don't know what rude is. Wait till he makes an excuse that he's going to die in the cold and jumps right down the front of your haori until he's settled between your breasts."
Kanna blinked, before subconsciously folding her arms over her breasts. Not only did the comment make her face begin to burn, but she also didn't think she'd like the thought of a perverted flea jumping down the front of her haori. Perhaps if he truly was going to die, then yes, but if he was merely trying to suck blood from her private places then they would soon have a dead flea on their hands. After all, the flea would be easily crushed beneath her foot.
Myouga wheezed, before coughing, "Ah, Master Inuyasha, you know I only did that because I was going to die! Besides, Lady Kagome did not disagree, since she was most kind about the situation. Without her body heat my poor body would have frozen over until I was of no help to you."
Huffing at the flea, Inuyasha gave him a glare, saying, "You're of no help now."
"I do not like the sight of bloodshed," Myouga defended, crossing his arms as Inuyasha's fingers loosened their grip.
Frowning, Inuyasha sighed, "You just don't like jumping into a scene where you might end up on the wrong side of the living poll."
Myouga nodded, his small eyes closing in understanding as he agreed. However, after a moment he registered the final bit of Inuyasha's phrase, and popped open his eyes to say, "Now, see here, Master Inuyasha, I am not afraid of death!"
Snorting, Inuyasha replied, "Is that why you run away every time we go into a dangerous situation? And here I thought it was because you didn't want to be turned into a flea sided bit of ash, or worse."
"I am not afraid of death, or battle, Master Inuyasha," Myouga replied, "I-I-I merely do not wish to get in the way of your battling skills. Should I fling myself into battle I might cause you to lose your concentration and in the end fall into the sweet, alluring darkness when death calls upon the soul."
Kanna sighed, saying, "You seem to think about it quite a lot, Myouga."
Myouga nodded, "One must when it comes to such a brash being as Master Inuyasha, and his family. After all, I am merely a servant to them."
"Then go be a servant to my brother for once in a while," Inuyasha growled. "I got somewhere I need to go to, and you're wasting my time, Myouga." The truth was, he simply didn't like what Myouga was talking about. Sure, he was brash, he rushed into battle without thinking sometimes, but he still didn't like the fact that Myouga continued to talk about him as if he knew everything about him. Really, it was the only thing he knew he and his brother had in common. They didn't like being talked about when they were sitting right there listening to the conversation.
Myouga tilted his head to the side, "And, pray tell, where are you going Master Inuyasha that you cannot listen to the new information your servant has to tell you."
Kanna was about to answer when Inuyasha said, "None of your business. Just tell me what you think is so important before I leave you in the dust."
Huffing a little, Myouga said, "I have heard a rumor from inside the House of the Moon that your brother has finally decided to mate with a female."
"Really," Inuyasha said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Blinking in surprise, Myouga said, "You knew, Master Inuyasha?"
Closing his eyes, Inuyasha said, "I think I know whom he's going to mate with. However, its not like I care. That bastard can do whatever in the hell he wants, he not getting anything out of me from it. Besides, his mate-to-be has already claimed my death as her property."
Gripping his chin, Myouga asked, "Do you know the name of this demoness?"
Nodding, Inuyasha said, "Her name is Katana. She's… she was once Kagome. She went back to her time and went through some type of weird ceremony and now she's a fucking demon, while I'm still just a half-breed bastard." He turned his face away when he saw Myouga's mouth fall open, obviously never thinking about why Kagome hadn't been traveling with him for the last two years. The flea had asked him once where she was, but he hadn't answered.
"Lady Kagome is a demoness," Myouga gasped, "She's going to mate your brother! Oh my, I must check in with this. I must leave you Master Inuyasha and search for your brother, who I believe would be moving toward the Southern Lands by now." With that he jumped away, not even remembering to ask his master where he was going. If he'd known he would have done everything in his power to keep Inuyasha away from the place, but for now he was far to into the fact that his older brother was going to mate with Lady Kagome, now a demoness named Katana.
It truly was a small world.
Snapping her fingers, Kanna remembered the teleportation she wanted to try with her mirror. A ghostly smile appeared on her lips as she looked over at Inuyasha, gripping his shoulder, before saying, "Inuyasha, I believe I can get us to the entrance much faster."
Turning toward his companion, Inuyasha said, "Really? Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
Frowning, Kanna ducked her eyes away from him, saying, "I'm afraid I forgot. However, we could try if you wish, Inuyasha. I don't know if it'll work, though. You'll just need to hold onto my sleeve." She watched as Inuyasha grabbed the material, before she lifted her mirror from her side up to her eyes. The entrance came into view, as her eyes began to swim with a cream color, her face leaning toward it, her nose coming in contact with the smooth surface.
oOo
He blinked away the blackness that'd formed before his eyes. That was the strangest sensation he'd ever experienced. However, as he glanced around he found the trees at his back, a cave looking entrance before him. The strange markings around the outside of the cave intrigued his mind for only a moment before he felt a hand grip his fire-rat haori sleeve, tugging him toward the cave. When he looked to see who was tugging he saw Kanna, her eyes faced straight ahead, and he knew… they'd made it. They were going to finally enter the different chambers that led to the 'River of Fire' and when he finally got there, he was going to…
Well, he was going to unleash the true power of Flamegora.
He had a feeling it was a mighty weapon, all it needed was a little push toward release. Once it was, then he would have a weapon possibly capable of taking out Tetsusigia, and that other fucking sword Katana held. Hell, he might be able to take out Sesshoumaru's Tokijin as well. As long as he had a weapon that could at least stand up to the power that their swords' could make when combined together, since he was positive they'd attack him with a force that could take down the mightiest of youkai fiends.
Deep within his heart, though, he hoped that they attacked Naraku with their combined power, instead of him. At least then they'd be doing the world a favor, instead of merely attacking a small piece of the game board. He would be one of the inferior pieces, after all. Just like he'd be one of the weakest fighters on one of Souta's games that they used to play together.
Kanna made a strange hand motion, before she stepped up next to the cave's wall. Her claws ran across the side, remembering the ancient spell she'd need to use to open the first chamber. It wasn't hard; she just needed to continue to chant inside her head until the end of the cave, which was where the back would open up into what looked like a swirling light blue vortex… Well, that was what the scrolls always said, but even if most of it weren't exactly true, then she'd be able to open it by merely combining the information together.
The cave was dark; it contained an eerie feeling that made one feel like something, anything, was going to jump out at you all of a sudden. However, the walls were suddenly lit with blue and purple markings as Kanna's claws scrapped over the stone. They swirled around creating ancient markings; ones that would only be known to someone who had been born around the time of the gods themselves were born. That, however, was a very long time ago. So long that no one living in Japan at the moment would ever be able to read what they said unless they found an ancient scroll with the symbols and what the meant inside.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, telling him that something was up ahead. It wasn't very dangerous, but it could be enough to cause him harm. Then again, the softly burning light at the end of the tunnel was enough to make his feet go forward, the cold surface underneath his toes tingling up into his other limbs. That tingle was not a good one, though, but told him that he should turn around before they got to far into the cavern and run as far away as he could.
After that short ride through whatever Kanna's mirror had done… well, his nerves were on their final strand and he wanted nothing to do with anything magic anymore. However, as they continued forward, even as he tried to pull away from Kanna many times, Kanna pulled him forward, dragging him down the cave, obviously not bothered by whatever was ahead of them.
It was then she turned toward him, smelling his fear thick in the air. Giving him a blank stare in the darkness, Kanna said, "Inuyasha, do not be afraid. It is said that there is only a few creatures within the seven chambers. Other then that there is merely lingering magic that makes you fear what is ahead. You, truly, should not fear anything but yourself within these walls."
"So," Inuyasha replied, "I just want to get out of here. Please, Kanna, don't make me go in there!" His eyes were wide with fear, the magic wrapping itself around him, causing him to go into a stage of fright higher then he'd ever experienced. However, Kanna continued to drag him to the end of the cave until they finally made it to the back where Kanna swung her hand in a circle upon the wall.
His eyes widened as a portal was opened. It looked much like the one he'd traveled through to reach his father's tomb when he first received Tetsusigia. However, it flashed lavender, white swirls mixing within it, turning in an endless circle. Even as he tried to drag his feet into the floor, fear gripping at his every cell, Kanna effortlessly pulled him forward, straight into the swirling vortex that he didn't want to go toward…
oOo
"Inuyasha, really, that is not necessary," Kanna sighed, shaking off the feeling of falling. The portal was very strange, but looking around now, she knew that what they'd said was true. The place looked very hot, at least to someone else, for she watched as small volcanoes erupted within minutes of each other. Red rocks surrounded the place, yet the first doorway was only around forty yards away. Not that far at all for her to travel at all. However, there was something ominous in the air, and she could not help but feel there was something dangerous within the chamber.
What she did not notice where the black eyes watching them from the background… But, Kanna did pick up on the whine of a horse, as she continued to try and drag Inuyasha from her person. She stopped, allowing the inu-hanyou to cling to her while she listened. The sound was gone, though when a blast of steam erupted in front of them, the noise overpowering every other sound.
"Argh…" Inuyasha said, letting his grip on Kanna slacken, "Kanna? Wha? What happened, I feel like I was hit by twenty wagons at once?"
Beginning to walk forward, Kanna smiled over at the hanyou, saying, "It should be nothing, Inuyasha. Probably from when you worked yourself up earlier." She watched as Inuyasha suddenly broke out into a sweat, and began fanning his chest by pulling and pushing his haori next to his body. It should have caused heat to pool within her, since she thought the sight was very erotic to her eyes, but she could not tell from the heat suddenly scorching at her side.
Inuyasha moved his feet over the rocks, feeling the heat pulse beneath him. However, it didn't bother his feet as much as it bothered his upper torso. The walls contained the heat that rose within the cavern, since there seemed to be nothing that would release it. It was only natural that a ningen would not survive in this heat, but he felt like he could have a heatstroke at any minute. From what Kanna had told him, though, he should not be this hot. It shouldn't have affected his body this way, yet he felt like he was getting weaker by the moment. Not too much, but enough to make him simply want to sit down for a while. He knew he could not do that, though.
They'd walked only half the distance when Kanna once more heard the sound of a horse. It sounded like it echoed off the walls before suddenly traveling into her pointed ear, which meant it was either hiding, or moving very quickly. Whatever it was, though, it was probably the thing giving her that uneasy feeling, trying to tell herself that it was nothing. Still, she turned to Inuyasha, asking, "Did you hear that?"
He huffed, pulling at his haori to open it, before replying, "You mean that hot mist that just shot up out of the ground? Yeah, I heard that." He didn't wait for a reply, but continued forward toward the exit, wishing that he could just get out of there. He did hear something, that was right, but it sure as hell wasn't just the mist steaming out of the ground, but the sound of running water coming from the other side. Such a wonderful sound it was. Especially since he was really beginning to get thirsty, his throat drier then it had ever been in years… even when he was just a little kid and had to find his own food and water.
Iie, Inuyasha, she thought, the sound of a horse. But, how could a horse survive in these conditions, unless… Unless it was created by the kamis', or designed by nature to live in heat - still, how did it get here? Where did it come from? Hm… or I might just be hearing things. However, Kanna knew she was not for as they began to near the exit, which had seemed to be a little farther when they started, she knew this because the whining began to get stronger. Suddenly, she saw Inuyasha stiffen before her, his hand instantly going to the hilt of his sword.
The small volcano before them exploded in a wave of lava, a red horse rising from the depths. However, as it shook its yellow mane, they saw it shake something that looked to be attached to the side of its body, one on each side. The horse leaned his head back to give another whine, louder then before as if it were calling for help from others, but it merely slammed its hooves into the ground, continuing to shake its neck and head, while pawing at the ground. Its black eyes stared at them, smoke rising from its nostrils, the flesh expanding to take in more air. What also caught their attention was its tail, unlike its mane, its tail was a white color, mixed with a bit of orange, and it seemed to whip around without any help of the animal.
The horse continued to paw the ground, both of the people before it watching closely. However, the horse merely began forward when they noticed what, exactly, was on the side of its body. Kanna was the first to whisper, "Wings? Its…"
"A flying horse," Inuyasha finished. He watched as the horse began pacing toward him, but what made him pause from merely walking around the creature were its eyes. The light within them whispered intelligence, and surely there was a reason why the horse was within the chamber. Perhaps it was supposed to stop them from going to the next chamber, or perhaps it was simply there to entertain people. Kind of like it was doing now, except for the small part of him that whispered to not trust anything the creature did. After all, he'd never encountered one before, so he didn't know what it could do.
There was something very wrong.
Kanna could just smell it. It was thick in the air, kind of like the smoke that rose from the flying horse's snout. The horse began moving from its soft pace into a gallop, suddenly rushing at Inuyasha, its body completely erupting into flames, its wings stretching out horizontally at its sides. However, before it reached the hanyou it lifted itself into the air, flapping once to gain lift, before smashing its hooves into the hanyou's face. She gasped, noticing that Inuyasha hadn't even seen the attack coming, for he was currently staggering, two hoof prints engraved on his face. He was smiling, obviously not realizing that he was hurt, instead of happy.
Her heart ached, her legs stiffened, when she noticed that the horse continued to circle above them, before suddenly opening its mouth to let out a wave of demonic power. The wave was not normal, for she could see the sound of its whining wrapping around the fire that seemed to burst from its lungs. The attack, however, was heading straight for Inuyasha!
Inuyasha, breaking from his daze, knelt down when he saw the attack coming toward him. Quickly, though the fire did manage to burn a bit of his hair, he pulled one of his sleeves over his head, making sure the hair of the fire rat was completely engulfing him in its warmth. However, he did not expect for the sound of nearly soul breaking whining to reach his ears. The sound seemed to concentrate on his dog-like ears, surrounding them, as he let out a search of agony.
Finally breaking into a run, suddenly, Kanna raced toward Inuyasha. She saw that the horse was beginning to circle around them once more, when she leapt into the air. She didn't know exactly what happened, but her eyes turned black, her hand turning into a set of talons. Fire swirled around her talons, as she stabbed her claws into the horse's side. It didn't hit anything the horse needed to continue to live, but it did knock it off balance, the horse spiraling down onto the ground.
Inuyasha stood as Kanna did a back flip onto the ground, her features slowly shifting back into her humanoid form. However, he turned his face toward the whining horse, watching as it suddenly burst into a golden dust, the pieces melting into the ground. He had a funny feeling that the creature was going to go heal, instead of being killed like he hoped it was. He had a feeling that the creature could not be killed because it was apart of the place they were traveling through.
Nodding to Kanna when she came to his side, Inuyasha began moving toward the small exit. It was a small hole, and he had to crawl through it to on his hands and knees. He knew Kanna was right behind him, but complete blackness surrounded him before he began seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
oOo
Hot… now its cold… what next, the sun! Inuyasha whined to himself. They were traveling through a frozen tundra, and they had been for many hours – or it seemed like hours – searching for the exit. He was beginning to think they wouldn't find the exit, since they'd been traveling so long, and now even Kanna was beginning to shiver. He was sure his face was starting to turn a light blue, which didn't really bother him, but Kanna was a different story. She was a tori-youkai mixed with a void now, and she wasn't used to the cold. From what he knew tori-youkai flew to warmer areas when it became cold in the place they were residing. She must have been freezing. It was a good thing she wasn't in her true form.
Shaking his head, Inuyasha marched forward, the feel of this frozen world underneath his feet. He was sure that by the time they finally made it to the next door that his feet would be completely blue from cold. It wouldn't bother him as much as long as the feeling came back in them… or if they needed up on a warm place, so his poor feet could get some feeling back into them. Of course, that could just be washed away, since it seemed to be getting colder by the second, yet he still couldn't see the exit.
It was like this place just went on for miles.
He heard coughing behind him, and turned to see Kanna shivering worse then she was before. He moved to go share body heat with her, when he heard her whisper, "Inuyasha… I think… we're going in circles…" Her sentence confused him for a minute, before he looked up toward the sky. It was true, because sometimes the snow would be coming down at them from the north, and then sometimes from the east.
Damn it all to hell, we are going in circles, he cursed. He turned to Kanna, seeing her shiver worse then before, her entire body shaking in the wind. She looked like she could just be blown away, but what worried him worse was when she coughed again, and blood began coming up her throat. His body froze in place until she finally collapsed onto the ground, continuing to cough, blood splattering onto the ground.
"Kanna," he whispered. He looked around, before saying, "Kanna, hold on, ok! I'm gonna dig a tunnel so we can go under the ground and then I can share my body heat with you, ok?"
He didn't wait for her to nod, but pulled out his sword, wishing that it would comply with his wishes and use the fire attacks it had during his battle with Ayame. However, the sword was stubborn, and he merely slammed it into the frozen ground. He expected it to sink down easily into the snow, what he didn't expect was for it to merely bounce off, Flamegora's blade shaking like mad. He tried again and again and again, but nothing happened, until he slammed it into the snow so hard, his blood pumping in his ears, that the blade suddenly shattered.
The hilt dropped from his hand, his foot stepping on one of the broken pieces yet, he didn't register the pain that shot through him. His blood was pumping wildly, his eyes wide; adrenaline pumped through his very veins as he turned back toward Kanna, seeing if she was still ok. However, what he saw was not what he wanted to see at all. No, not after just losing his sword.
Stiffly, he walked to her side, dropping to his knees in the snow beside her. She wasn't moving – he wasn't even sure if she was breathing because he couldn't hear over the blood pumping quickly through his own veins. "Kanna?" he asked, reaching out to touch her. She still didn't move to acknowledge him, even when he pushed her shoulder a little, the snow that had begun to pile on top of her shifting just a bit.
Something inside his heart seemed to shake with rage, but it didn't shutter and weep like it did when he lost Kikyo the first time, when he lost Kagome. No, it just felt like he was standing there, anger at himself for not being able to allow her to… to… he didn't even know if she was dead, so why was he saying she was? Still, it worried him, since he seemed to finally be tossed into a bunch of pieces that happened, until finally he realized the reason why the incarnation of Naraku had been following him around this whole time – why she'd been helping him of her own free will.
Kanna had loved him.
Did he love her? He'd had so many loves' so far that he wasn't sure if he could love again or not. Perhaps it was because she was apart of Naraku, but something stopped him from completely loving him. Something stopped him… and he was sure it was himself.
Gripping her shoulder between his claws, he prayed to the kamis' that what was happening was not real. Through her black haori, well, all he could feel was cooling skin. Skin that would have been warm if he'd been able to realize they were going in circles earlier. If he'd listened to what Kanna said about following which direction the snow came from, since it would probably lead them straight to the exit. No, he had to be stubborn. Now, Kanna might have paid with her life, and it was his fault. It was his fault… just like Kikyo's death, and Kagome's reason for becoming Katana. It would always be his fault. He was like a beacon that called death or suffering to those around him, along with himself yet, those around him, mainly women, were the one's that suffered worse then he did.
With a final bit of hope, Inuyasha rolled Kanna onto her back. However, her arms merely flew to where he dropped her, neither of them coming up to hit him or anything because of his rough behavior. Glancing at Kanna's face, he saw the blood that she'd began coughing up was dried onto her lips and dribbled down her chin and throat, making her look like she'd just had a meal of some kind. Her face was still stunning, except for her eyes. Her eyes, the ones that used to hold so much life, were now completely dulled, a dark gray in color. They held no life, they did not move, no, they simply stared straight into the sky, even as snow began falling onto them.
Giving a choked sob, Inuyasha lifted his hand to her forehead, before dripping his palm down across her eyes to close them. He then licked at his fingers, quickly beginning to wash her of the blood before his spit became ice. Afterward, though his fingers were freezing cold by then and his mouth was full of her blood's taste, he gently closed her mouth, and began placing her body into a more ritual like position, wanting others to see her at her best if anyone ever survive this far… if anyone else ever made his mistake.
After he was done, Inuyasha could not find the strength to leave Kanna's side. He knew that he had to continue, or at least return to the main cave and flee into the forest, where he'd try to stay away from all females. However, it was like the snow had began to freeze his insides, and he didn't even realize that he'd laid his head where Kanna's heart should have been beating. His eyes closed, and he accepted death's call, allowing it to take him…
It was then Inuyasha began struggling against the illusion that held him with the next chamber. Vine like appendages held him in place, pouring more images of Kanna's, Kikyo's, Kagome's, and even Katana's death into his mind. Sweat had begun to form on his brow, though he did not know what exactly was happening. All he knew was that something was wrong, that all those women within his life would not die so easily. Especially the last image he got, the one where Naraku's tentacle took Katana's life. No, Sesshoumaru would have saved her, revived her with Tenseiga, not simply walked away, his head lower then it had been, tears of loss breaking through his icy exterior. Sesshoumaru was not weak, and after Naraku's death would have swiped Tenseiga over Katana's body, since all he needed was to love her for the sword's powers to work. Those tears in his illusion proved that he had.
Inuyasha's body continued to pull on his restrains, the vines continuing to hold him down and fill his head with things that could not happen, would not happen if he were around. No, even in the final image of Katana's death he would have pushed her out of the way so she would no longer think of him as simply the person who betrayed her for another, but as a creature that walked the Earth beside her like she used to. So that she might release her ill feeling for him, and no longer hunt for his death, even if it was for his reincarnations.
His claws suddenly sliced through the vines holding down his arms without him realizing it. The illusions flattered as more vines began trying to wrap around his arms, however the damage was done, and he opened his eyes. As soon as he saw the vines that were holding him down, Inuyasha sliced through them like they were paper, before jumping up. The strange vines that filled the entire place seemed to retreat away from him as if afraid, and for that he was glad. He didn't need to have that hauntingly real vision again.
However, it was still fresh in his mind and he looked around to find Kanna. When he did, she was struggling lightly, everything but her eyes covered in those strange vines. Her claws were ripping through them, but they seemed to understand that she was more powerful then he was, and tightened their hold, continuing to keep her in place. However, her sudden hiss told him that she, too, was having a vision inside her mind, and whatever it was, Kanna definitely didn't like it. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what Kanna was seeing, since he was sure that it wasn't very good.
Something told him that these vines were trying to make them so frightened that they sudden had a heart attack, before they tightened their hold so badly that the person couldn't get any oxygen and died in their hold. He would make sure that Kanna was freed before that happened, though. Still, he continued to wonder what she was seeing, since she wasn't struggling very hard.
Their lips were locked in an endless battle, their tongues fighting to search the depths of each other's mouths. However, she shivered when Inuyasha's hand snaked its way up her thigh, gently tickling the flesh through her hakamas. A giggle formed in her throat, as she pressed closer to him, her tongue massaging the roof of Inuyasha's mouth. Still, his tongue managed to snake around hers and sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He pulled away then, his lips touching the corner of her mouth gently, before smiling at her. It was strange that the next chamber would bring this out of him, but all Kanna could think of it… well, the chamber had brought out Inuyasha's true feelings, and nature. Perhaps that was what it was meant to do, perhaps it was not - either way Kanna was enjoying herself. Very much, in fact, since Inuyasha's hands were touching her in places she didn't even think would bring pleasure to her.
They did, and she wasn't even worried that they were inside what looked to be a glowing forest of trees, or the fact that a very familiar aura was coming toward them. No, all she cared about was the fact that Inuyasha was finally returning her feelings, he was finally beginning to see that she wanted to be with him for the rest of eternity. Still, even though she didn't pay much attention the aura continued to get closer, sending a shock of awareness about the situation, making her even more pleased since she knew they could be caught at any moment.
"Oh, Kanna," he whispered, nuzzling his head into the side of her neck. "I'll always protect you, no matter what."
Allowing another giggle to pass her lips, Kanna replied, "I'd like that, Inuyasha."
Feeling him smirk against her neck, she felt his breath come out a little harsher then before. His fangs gently bit into her neck, and she let out a small mew of protest, trying to move away before he completely locked his lips around her flesh and held her there. He began to growl, when she noticed that something was wrong. His claws had grown and were currently sinking into her skin, but when she finally shoved him away he seemed fine and was even asking her why she didn't want his courting mark. She was confused, but allowed him to continue with his bite, even though her instincts were to shove him off and fry him to a crisp.
The presence continued to come closer, but she told herself over and over again that no one they knew were within the chambers' except for them. So, how was it she felt the presence of a very familiar person. Surely there was no one with them, unless another youkai like creature, like the horse, was lurking within the chamber somewhere. Of course, it could have been something else.
When Inuyasha's lips felt her neck, she turned her eyes toward the bushes before them to see them slip apart. Inuyasha's hand had snaked its way up inside her haori, but her breathing caught in her throat when she looked at her sister standing before them. Kagura glanced between them, a sneer clearly written on her features, as she finally locked eyes with Kanna.
"This is the company you choose to have while away from the castle, Kanna?" Kagura sneered, "I pathetic half-breed!" Her hand gripped her fan harder, as she said, "You defy our master this way, Kanna. How could you go against his law?"
Confusion wrote itself clearly onto her face, as Kanna said, "Naraku? Kagura, since when do you follow anything Naraku tells you?"
Kagura narrowed her beautiful eyes, "Since the day I was created, Kanna. I have now been told to kill the very being who you have, from what I see, fallen in love with! Kanna, you are my sister, but you must die for this!"
Pushing Inuyasha behind her, Kanna stood, saying, "Kagura, I don't understand. You are the wind, you wish to be free – you've defied Naraku more then I ever have. I, before he gave us more power, was nothing but a tool with a mirror to the outside world. Now, I wish for happiness and you're going to try and take it from me! I will not allow that, Kagura, even with we come from the same man."
"You're a fool, Kanna," Kagura hissed. She raised her fan, ready to strike down the both of them. However, her beauty wasn't marred the slightly as she glared at them with pure hatred.
This was not the Kagura she knew. This person was different, and strange. "You're the fool, demoness. You are not my sister, Kagura!" Kanna hissed, her eyes flashing.
As Kagura raised her fan, Kanna got ready to send it flying back at her. However, Inuyasha suddenly placed his hand on her shoulder, pushing her back down onto the ground. When Kanna glanced up she saw that even Kagura was surprised by this action, especially when Inuyasha pulled out his sword, Flamegora, and said, "Stay behind me, Kanna, I'll protect you."
"But Inuyasha—" Kanna began.
Inuyasha smirked, saying, "No buts, Kanna. I'll protect the woman I love."
Something was very wrong, she could tell, but her love and her sister suddenly went into battle. Inuyasha swung his sword causing flames to circle around it, but Kagura's ability to control the wind easily knocked it off the blade and sent it flying at the wielder of the blade. However, Inuyasha moved to the right, before slashing out his sword when he was close enough to actually hit Kagura. Blood splattered from her sister's side, and Kanna wasn't sure whether she should be happy or angry.
Kagura hissed; gripping her side with the hand she wasn't using as Inuyasha jumped away from her. Raising her fan again, Kagura flipped it open completely, before growling, "Foolish half-breed. I shall kill you for touching my beautiful body!"
Inuyasha let out his "Feh", before saying, "I'd like to see you try!"
Kanna wasn't sure what had happened. Her mind told her this was extremely wrong, that something was definitely different. However, what she did know was that suddenly Inuyasha's sword was lodged inside a tree trunk, Inuyasha looking over toward it with a horrified expression on his face before he began to slowly glance back at her sister.
"Dance of Blades!" Kagura's voice filled the clearing, white blades flying from her fan. The wind she controlled traveled through the air quickly, and she smirked when she heard a scream, the splattered blood flying into the air, before Inuyasha's body slumped backward and onto the ground.
Kanna rushed forward, her eyes widening further and further with every step she took. When she reached Inuyasha she dropped to his side, tears beginning to stream down her face like a waterfall, as she choked, "Inuyasha…?"
His eyes cracked open, as he said, "Kanna…" blood filled his mouth, spilling down his chin, the red liquid thick and plentiful. His wounds bled worse, each turning the once pure soil into a black piece of wasteland. He never finished his sentence, as his eyes rolled back into his head, a gurgled sound coming from his mouth as his heart came to a stop.
Kagura smirked, "Now…" She raised her fan once more, and as Kanna looked up, her vision was filled with the sight of white blades of wind. However, even as they cut into her body, her clothing being ripped apart as the sun began to go down, she was just happy she'd be able to see half of Inuyasha in hell. After all, that was where youkai came from, while most ningen souls went to heaven…
Never blinking, Kagura began to fade from her vision, yet what Kanna didn't realize was that it wasn't her vision fading, but Kagura's form. Kagura still never blinked though, not even as Kanna felt another dose of blades strike her body. It was then she heard the faint whisper of, "Now… you will never love again… foolish girl…"
Inuyasha watched as Kanna's body suddenly arched upward, her head tilting back until her fangs sank into the vines that had once been around her eyes. They tore easily, as Kanna was suddenly up on her feet, her hair beginning to change into their feature form, her eyes wide and feral. He backed away a little, but within moments Kanna was back to normal, her arms flung around his neck as she began to sob.
"Inuyasha, you're alright," Kanna whispered. She sniffled a little, before tightening her hold. After a while, though, she released him, noticing finally that he was beginning to turn a light blue. She smiled weakly, letting out a giggle at his color, before wiping at her eyes.
Inuyasha, rubbing at his neck, said, "Please don't continue crying, Kanna. Please," he wiped his own thumb over her cheek, "I don't like seeing women cry." He also didn't like smelling salt in the air as thick as it was, so he really had two reasons why he didn't want her crying. However, Kanna suddenly burst into tears again as his hand move away from the strange tears.
The silver liquid continued to pour out of Kanna's eyes, her hand coming up to wipe at them, desperately trying to comply to Inuyasha's wishes. She was just so happy, though. He wasn't dead, she hadn't been attacked by her sister, and they were alive, and… She needed to stop crying, they still had five more chambers to go through, which meant they still had plenty of ways to die. She wouldn't allow that to happen, she wouldn't!
"Kanna," Inuyasha said, looking down at his hand, "you're tears are silver."
She nodded, before turning away from him. She could already see the exit, and didn't want to stay any longer then she already was. Especially since she was currently allowing Inuyasha to see her weakness, though she wasn't exactly sure why her tears were silver. Maybe there was a reason, but she hadn't ever found out why.
Inuyasha looked down at the ground, his mind sighing, I wish she'd stop crying… she should be happy that we're still alive and still continuing. Maybe she'd sick of me… As he began moving forward, though, he didn't notice the way her tears shimmered as they fell from his hand, each sinking into the vines, making a flower suddenly bloom on the stop. It was black in color, small silver designs on the petals. However, as soon as it bloomed, it died, each petal fulfilling his wish.
Kanna's tears stopped instantly, and she called for him to hurry up, before rushing toward the exit. Hell, she wasn't even sure if it was the exit, but she was going to try it since she was sure the other exit would be fiery red, instead of yellow like the one before her. Happiness seemed to flood through her, as she moved forward, her feet carrying her deeper into the chamber as Inuyasha began to follow.
oOo
White sand lay beneath their feet, the soft material creating the perfect cushion for Inuyasha's feet. The jungle before them was beautiful, with lush palm trees, and thick, freshly rained on leaves. The smell of fruit, and other sweet smelling foods filled their noses, each of them sniffing at the air lightly. However, the sound of rushing water caught their attention more, as they began moving through the thick foliage, searching for the next door, knowing that they could merely walk around in circles.
Footprints were left behind as they moved from the beach into the jungle, each a reminder of where they had once been. The portal that had brought them to this strange chamber, one that had the sun shining brightly, clouds off in the distance yet, rolling in quite quickly… the portal was gone, however. Unlike the others the portal had simply disappeared, as if it was telling them they couldn't go back even if they wanted to. Either they died, or they continued forward.
They were both to stubborn to die, which meant they needed to go with the second choice. Besides, they both felt that they had a long time to live before their lives were taken from them. Well, except Inuyasha who continued to get that nagging feeling that something was going to go wrong in the end, he was going to screw up, and Katana was going to slice his head from his shoulders.
Inuyasha raised his arm when a low branch came into view, and moved it aside with his wrist. He moved forward, his eyes continuing to gaze around, when he heard the sound of the branch smacking flesh. At first he thought it had simply backlashed at the tree it was hanging from until he heard a hiss from the female behind him. Turning, he saw Kanna glaring at him, a new pink color forming on her neck where she'd been hit. Apparently she wasn't too happy about it, because she shoved him to the side and continued forward without even a single syllable leaving her lips, which had suddenly seemed like they were fused together.
Grinning, Inuyasha rubbed the back of his neck, before following after her. It wasn't hard, except for the occasion spider webs they'd find that could stretch for what seemed like miles. They were mostly high in the trees, but other then that they'd find it between certain trees. Inuyasha, after a while, was beginning to get the impression that someone was trying to push them in the direction that they wanted to go, instead of where they wanted to go. Finding the other side of the island, or whatever it was, was probably not on whatever creature's, that lived there, mind. True, it was on theirs, but that was only because he and Kanna hadn't been stuck in this stupid place for years on end.
Thank kami for that, Inuyasha thought. It was then he felt the chilling he got whenever his beast began talking with him. It wasn't a large feeling, but it was just something that told him that after all this time the thing that lived inside him was finally beginning to speak with him. He wondered if Kanna, as a full youkai, had to go through something much worse?
The beast, wild in nature and look, quickly replied, you have no right to take kami for anything, half-breed.
Huffing, Inuyasha turned his nose into the air, before thinking, go back to the hole you crawled out of you fucking bastard. Almost instantly he knew his beast would have something to say against him, since his sentence hadn't been well thought over when he said it.
Smirking, the beast began to fade, but not before replying, hai, I shall go, master. After all, who wouldn't want to return to that empty hole you call a mind!
Giving it a small mental growl, Inuyasha made sure to remind himself to place one step in front of the other. It didn't help much, since he stumbled once, catching himself before he hit the ground completely, before scolding himself mentally, telling himself that he shouldn't act like such a baka around Kanna. True, he wasn't sure what he felt for the demoness, but he felt a tiny flame of something, so why couldn't he have happiness for once in his life. After all, weren't all creatures given a soulmate when they're born? If they were then he was in luck, for though youkai were said to be born from the darkness levels of Hell and returned their once killed, his perfect mate was out there somewhere.
Maybe it wasn't Kanna, maybe it was. Who knew, really?
It was strange, the webs weren't normal, and that was the only thing Kanna was certain about when it came to this damn chamber. True, it was hot, and there were many little creatures that lived in this kind of heat roaming around, but what was the purpose of this. A maze? Or perhaps whoever made the chambers had something much more sinister in mind, and there was some type of spider youkai up ahead that would try to eat them. Wouldn't that be ironic? First a flying horse tried to fry them to a crisp and now they might get eaten. It was like the horse wanted to help but its friend a few chambers away from it.
The sound of rushing water was getting louder, the faint feeling to turn the other way and run growing stronger. However, Kanna told herself that she needed to be brave in front of Inuyasha, even if that meant nearly killing herself. Besides, what if Inuyasha's not having this sudden feeling? It'd be embarrassing to say we need to turn around when that'd only lead us back to where we started, she told herself. However, the feeling grew and she couldn't convince herself otherwise. There was something up ahead that could mean a lot of trouble if it wanted to be. Maybe it was big, maybe it was small, but either way Kanna was going to face it.
The sound of growling caught their attention, making them snap their attention to the side. Glowing yellow eyes stared at them from the distance, and instantly Inuyasha and Kanna dropped into battle positions. However, the growl wasn't threatening, merely a greeting in from youkai language. That was about all they could make from it, before whatever the creature was began moving toward them. They knew this not only because the sound was getting louder, but because they could also hear the creature's paws crunching the jungle leaves under its weight.
"What do you think it is?" Inuyasha asked, glancing at Kanna from the corner of his eye.
Kanna shrugged a little, before saying, "I don't know, Inuyasha. Something tells me its not going to hurt us, though." She saw Inuyasha relax a little, before saying, "It sounds big; real big."
Smirking, Inuyasha replied, "Yeah, but if it decides that we look good enough to eat we can have something to kill, right? Then at least we can get our claws into something living, since I didn't get to take a swipe at that damn horse from the first chamber."
The eyes were about the only thing they could see, which was strange with all the sunlight falling into the jungle through the canopy of leaves. However, they never let their eyes off those eyes, for whatever the creature was it was not only growling in greeting, but it had to be huge. The sound it made was like one of those very annoying and disturbing cars in Katana's true era. He'd never trust one of those damn metal machines. Not only did those damn things smell bad, but when they went by they sounded like they were growling in challenge, before they fled the scene. True, he'd been told many times cars weren't living, but something told him that they weren't dead. So, if they weren't living and they weren't dead, what were they?
Watching carefully, they blinked when a large tori looking creature came out from within the trees. It was much different from an actually tori, though, even a youkai one. Its fur was the same pattern of orange and black, but that wasn't the strange thing about it, neither were the eyes that seemed to pierce into their very souls. No, when it came out of the trees they watched as its fur rippled, and changed before settling on the orange and black pattern. Over its shoulders looked like armor that had grown from its very skin, each in a light brown color. Its back hunches were the same, the brown armor thing covering them, winding down its tail like a pair of twin snakes that broke away from each other when their ends were connected. At the end of that tail, though, was a very deadly looking spike that whipped around a little, the end opening and closing a bit, while it shook out its fur.
The armor that grew from its body also covered its head. Like a true warriors helmet it went down the sides of its face, but unlike a warriors helmet it didn't have attachments to keep it there, but grew right into the skin of the creature – except for the pieces that went down to look like fangs. The helmet was designed with two spikes on the end of its muzzle, and one above each eye. That caught their attention, as well. The place where its eyes should be were covered, only its yellow eyes being seen through holes that were cut the same way its eye was shaped… even the same size. Out of the back of the helmet were longer spikes that looked strangely like horns. However, if its strange looking armor hadn't had them dumbstruck, the fact that it was apart of the creature, or maybe that it had changed colors when it came out into the opening.
Not only were they dumbstruck, they were in awe a bit. This creature didn't seem to be harmful – ok, it did look like it could rip out someone's throat, but it wasn't acting like it wanted to – when it came forward and gripped Inuyasha's sleeve, pulling him into the jungle. Of course, Inuyasha wasn't going to allow some strange creature he couldn't understand lead him into a jungle where many things could eat him. Besides, this tori could just be leading him back to its den where its many little buddies would help him feast upon his flesh. So, Inuyasha pulled away from the creature, only to have it turn back to him as if in confusion, before tilting its head to the side and giving a small sigh.
Kanna touched his arm gently, saying, "I don't think it means us harm, Inuyasha. Maybe it doesn't want us going off into some danger far worse then anything else on this island. Who knows, it might be leading us to the next portal."
Inuyasha nodded a little, but said, "I know, but it gives me the creeps. I mean I can't understand neko, Kanna. I only understand inu, so it's hard to know what it's trying to say—"
"You could have just asked what I was saying," came a low voice. It seemed to come out of nowhere, but both of their heads snapped to the creature now sitting on its hunches staring up at them as if nothing strange was happening.
Kanna blinked, surprised, before kneeling down beside the tori. "Did you just say that?" she asked.
It gave a small nod of its head, before saying, "Hai. I am Suni, guardian of the island you stand upon." Another strange thing about this tori: its mouth never moved, but its voice came from where it sat. It was like its voice just filled the area without any help of anything at all, not even its tongue moving to create the syllables. "I am here to stop you from making the biggest mistake you can on this island."
"Why?" Inuyasha suddenly demanded, not trusting this strange creature at all. When its head turned to him, he said, "Why are you helping us?" A low growl formed at his lips after he was done, telling the neko to fuck off.
"This island is held by magic stronger then your mind can understand, inu," Suni replied. "This island has creature's that will eat a man alive should they get close enough to hear their haunting song. They are known as sirens, but unlike normal sirens they cannot attract women with their voice, which is why all creature's on this island are female."
Kanna blushed a little, before whispered, "How do you…? Well, how do you continue your families if you can't…? If there are no males…"
"We do not die, demoness," the tori replied. "Within this chamber we are forever young. We will live until time has ended, or the kamis' are destroyed."
Nodding her head, Kanna said, "I see."
Suni dipped her head, before saying, "Now, come. We do not want your male companion here to be caught within those man-eating devils grasp, for if they get ahold of him he will not be leaving… or living very soon."
"Suni?" Kanna asked. She was curious.
"Hai?" the tori replied, standing onto her four paws.
Kanna tilted her head back, analyzing her question for a moment, before nodding to herself. "I've heard that sirens tell you what kind of person you truly are if you can survive them. I've also heard that they sing what your heart desirers. Is this true?"
Suni turned to leave, before saying, "Perhaps with sirens not of this place. However, these are much different. Now, please, we must go before they awaken…"
However, it was too late, for Inuyasha was already caught in their grasp. Their music moved over the island like a current, Suni hissing in rage. Almost instantly Inuyasha turned toward the sound of rushing water and began moving away. His pace wasn't very fast, but Suni knew that should the inu-hanyou get close enough the sirens would transform from their beautiful mermaid like appearance into a devilish creature that would devour him within moments. So, as soon as the inu-hanyou shot off she raced after him, Kanna close behind her.
TBC…
OoO
KibaSin:
Yes, I know it took me forever to write. I've had a lot on my mind. Like new fanfictions, the ones I'm currently working on, finals for school, and lots of other things. Since it took me so long, I decided to end the chapter and continue in the next chapter, since it's going to be the second part to this one. I know I always say this, but I hope to have the next chapter by Monday, since school is almost out. That means I have three months to write without school getting in the way. Of course, that also means I can type and update more quickly, but with the four stories I'm writing… it really won't seem that fast to me.
Anyway, I'll see you all next time!
Kiba