DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!
The Sword Smith's Secret
By MissKatt
Chapter Fifty-Three: Commands
Inuyasha and Ryura exchanged a knowing glance as the miko tied her obi around her armor. It looked extremely out of place with her yukata and bandaged hands. They watched as she tied her hair back into a low ponytail and approached them with an opened hand.
The hanyou placed the warm orb into her waiting palm and sighed. "Kags, you really look weird."
She puffed out her cheeks at him, her hand closing around Sesshoumaru's soul. "It can't look that bad," She huffed and then looked down over her appearance. "Okay, well, it's temporary."
The dragon gave a little smirk and fell into step next to her as she began to walk to the exit of the shiro. "I am glad that you have returned, Kagome-sama."
She smiled back at him. "It is nice to be back. I'm happy that I succeeded." She replied, smiling down at Sesshoumaru's soul. She gave a little sigh and looked forward once again. "I just can't wait for this whole nightmare to be over."
"Agreed," He commented and then stiffened slightly when he saw Kagura waiting for them. He quickly licked his lips as he recalled the tingling feeling he experienced. "Wind witch."
Kagura's eyes met his, her cheeks turning a slight hue of pink. "Dragon boy," She greeted with a forced coolness. She tore her eyes from him and looked at the short miko. "So, you came back in one piece."
"Well, kind of," Kagome held up her bandaged arms and then gave a soft laugh. "Anyways, are you coming with us, Kagura-san?"
"Yes. I was not going to, but I need to make sure that Naraku gets sent back to Hell. He being alive is too hazardous for my life." She said and then glanced at the dragon once more.
Kagome glanced between the two, taking in the obvious awkwardness and tension. What had happened between them while she was gone? She opened her mouth to ask, but felt a huge gust of air attack her suddenly. She wrapped her hands protectively over Sesshoumaru's soul and held him to her chest as she turned to face the threat. She blinked when she saw the Eastern lord standing before her.
"Kouga?" She asked. "What are you doing here?"
Inuyasha growled at the wolf, stepping in front of Kagome as his youki continued to pulse. "I dunno what you want, flea bag, but you better calm down before we're forced to subdue you."
Furrowing her brow, she took in the features of the ookami's face and frowned. His ice blue eyes were red, his fangs bared as he growled at the mutt. "Kouga?"
"Where is he!?" Kouga snarled as he raised his fists and cracked his knuckles. "Where the fuck is Sesshoumaru!?"
Ryura grabbed Inuyasha's haori and pulled him back before he riled the wolf up further. "He is currently indisposed of. What can I assist you with, Kouga-sama?"
"You can help me by letting me skin him alive after what he did! I was a fool for trusting him to begin with! I'll kill him!" He shouted, growling loudly. He glanced over at his men as they stumbled over to him, panting heavily from exhaustion. "Tell them!" He ordered.
Kagome turned towards the wolves. "Ginta? Hakkaku? What happened? What is Kouga talking about?"
"Nee-san!" They both chimed happily before cowering at Kouga's snarls.
"Uh, well, part of Ayame-hime's pack was slaughtered in our lands." Ginta spoke up, frowning.
Hakkaku's tail swished. "Sesshoumaru's scent was there."
Her mouth fell open in shock. Ayame's pack was? Wait! Sesshoumaru's scent was there? And they think he did it? "No, no! You're wrong, Kouga! It wasn't Sesshoumaru!"
He turned on her, his glare fierce. "Don't tell me my nose is broken, Human; I know his scent."
She shook her head. "Yes, it was his scent, but it wasn't him!" She held up her hand, showing him the red orb. "This is Sesshoumaru!"
Kouga blinked at her, then at the orb, before scoffing. "The miko has gone crazy."
She glared at him and pulled the sphere back to her chest. "It is. Naraku switched souls with him."
His tail swished in disbelief, his mouth falling open at her stupidity. "What did you just say? Naraku is dead! You killed him, remember?"
Kagome sighed heavily. "His incarnate brought his soul back to this world," When his eyes widened and his mouth opened once again, she cut him off. "She pulled Sesshoumaru's soul out of his body and replaced it with Naraku's."
"Wait," He held up his hand and turned to Inuyasha. "You're tellin' me that Naraku is in Sesshoumaru's body?"
Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head. "Yeah…"
Kouga slammed his fist into the side of the hanyou's head. "How could you let this happen!?"
He clutched the wide of his head as a large welt appeared. He snarled at the wolf. "Hey! I wasn't there when it happened! So go fuck yourself!"
"Then who-!"
"It was my fault it happened," The miko spoke up quietly, a frown marring her face. She ignored the slightly burning sensation in her palm as the orb flared in heat. She met Kouga's eyes and sighed. "It's my fault, okay? So do not blame anyone else."
He blinked down at her pained expression before he huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. So what do we do now?"
"We?" She asked, her eye brows raising. "You are going to help us?"
He snorted. "Of course. I have to beat the crap out of Naraku for what he did to Ayame's pack."
She pursed her lips together. "You can't beat up Sesshoumaru's body, Kouga." She scolded.
He rolled his eyes. "He'll heal," He leaned forward and looked at the red ball in her hands. "So, Sesshoumaru is in there, huh?" When she nodded, he drew back. "How do you plan on getting him back inside?"
She frowned. "I am unsure, actually," She replied lamely. "I don't know how this is going to work."
Kagura cleared her throat. When the others looked at her, she spoke up. "Kanna said that she had to seal away the person's soul so that it would not try to find its way back to its body. She said the soul would kick out the other because the body would respond better to it."
"So, I just have to get him close to his body?" She asked, looking back down at the sphere.
Kouga blinked as he looked at the woman, who she was clicking into place in his head. "Hey! You're Naraku's wench! What the fuck are you doing here?!" Kouga snarled, getting ready to lurch at her.
Kagura stiffened and reached for her fan, but stopped when Ryura stepped in front of her. She blinked as she watched him push the wolf away, his hand going to the handle of one of the swords on his back. "Dragon boy…"
Ryura glared at the Eastern lord. "Stand down, Kouga-sama. She is not the enemy."
Kagome stepped towards them and put a hand on Kouga's arm. "It is true. She's helped us with this whole thing. She no longer serves Naraku." She turned towards the blushing woman. "Right, Kagura-san?"
She blinked out of her awe and looked over the miko. "Yes, I serve myself and that is it."
Seeing Kouga eye the woman suspiciously, she tightened her hold on his arm. "Kouga, please."
He looked down at her and scoffed at her pleading look. He looked away and crossed his arms across his chest. "Keh, fine."
She gave him a thankful smile and then withdrew her hand. She looked at Ryura and Inuyasha. "Well, shall we head out?" When they both nodded, she looked at the wolves and then at Kagura who nodded as well. She gave them all a smile. "Alright, let's get this going then."
*~~~SSS~~~*
After searching for several hours for the taiyoukai imposter, they finally found him and Kanna attacking a human village within the North's territory. Huts were burned down to rubble, black smoke filling the air around them. Bodies of women, men, and children scattered the ground in heaps, livestock and horses slaughtered among them.
Inuyasha released Kagome's legs so she could slide down his back and stand next to the lot of them. "Ah fuck, this isn't good." He murmured, frowning at the bodies.
Making sure that she had Sesshoumaru's soul tucked safely into the sleeve of her yukata, Kagome drew her sword as the others did. She frowned as she looked over the massacre, her painful memories coming back full force to haunt her. "This is horrible." She whispered, brows furrowing.
Kouga growled and looked over at 'Sesshoumaru' as he stalked towards them, his white silk stained with blood. "Naraku!"
A smirk tugged at his lips as he looked at the Eastern lord. "Well, I had hoped to send you into war with the West," He glanced at the rest of the seven people. "It seems that backfired, now didn't it?"
His lip lifted in a snarl. "I'm not stupid! I'd never fall for something like that!"
Inuyasha refrained on commenting how he did, in fact, fall for it. Instead he pointed Tessaiga at Naraku. "We're takin' my bastard brother's body back!"
He lifted Sesshoumaru's hand and let the poison seep to his fingertips, the whip ready to be wielded. "I think not. I'm growing quite accustomed to it." He mocked before flicking his wrist.
The group scattered out of the way, each dodging in different directions as the onslaught of attacks continued. Kouga heard a yelp of pain from one of the brothers and looked over at them to see Ginta holding his shoulder, Hakkaku trying to comfort him. Grinding his teeth in anger, he lurched at the imposter, Inuyasha right alongside with him.
Naraku slipped past Tessaiga's massive blade and punched Inuyasha square in the face before swinging his foot and slamming it into Kouga's torso. He watched them sail through the air with a satisfied smirk. "I believe I may have underestimated Sesshoumaru's strength." He commented as he clenched his hand.
Kagome watched as the boys landed hard on the ground before she glanced back at Naraku. She closed her eyes and shielded her face when two large gusts of wind blew past her from behind. She peeked over her arm and watched as Ryura and Kagura attacked Naraku simultaneously.
Ryura refrained from using his lightning attack from his sword with Kagura so near him. He wouldn't risk hurting her in to process…not that he cared or anything. He swung both swords at once at Sesshoumaru's body, but had to immediately still his actions as Kagura's body was swung at him. He awkwardly caught her in open arms, his swords pointing out to the sides so he wouldn't cut her.
Kagura felt her body tingle as she crashed into the dragon's chest armor. Why did every contact with him feel so weird? Why did just touching him sooth the blow she received in the face? She glanced up at him before she let out a sharp cry as a foot slammed into her back, sending the both of them reeling back a few feet.
Kagome tightened her hold on her sword as she watched the two fly backwards before toppling to the ground in a heap. She felt like she was rooted in place as she helplessly watched each member of her group attack Naraku, each one hoping to land a blow. She winced as they were repeatedly struck down, but couldn't force her legs to move forward and help them. She couldn't make herself swing her sword in hope of cutting down Sesshoumaru. Why was this so hard for her?
Her ears stung as she heard Naraku laugh with Sesshoumaru's voice and she forced her blue orbs to look at him. Her stomach dropped a little as his malicious amber eyes met hers. Her heart began to hammer in her chest as his clawed hand wrapped around Bakusaiga, drawing the dangerous sword from its sheath. She slid into a defensive position when he pointed the blade at her.
He smirked at her as she reacted to him. Did the miko not attack him because it was Sesshoumaru's body? Was it that odd tug he felt as he took over Sesshoumaru's body? The thing that made her obey his command? If that was true, then he would use this bond to his advantage when killing her.
Kagome glared at him in distrust as he lowered the sword, his twisted smirk still in place. "What are you doing?" She asked softly, her tone slightly nervous.
He opened his arms towards her. "Come here, Miko." He commanded.
Her brow furrowed for a second at the command. Was he insane? Why would he think she would comply-. Her eyes widened when she realized her body was not responding to the command. But how? Last time he ordered her to come to him, her thigh and body burned with the need to do so. But now, she didn't feel anything. Why?
She blinked when she felt a flare of heat throb against her forearm.
Of course! It had to be because she had Sesshoumaru's soul with her! Wasn't that what Touga said? That she would respond to whatever was closer to her?
Her head snapped up when Sesshoumaru's baritone voice growled her name, his amber eyes glaring at her. If she could make him believe that he did, in fact, have control over her, she could get Sesshoumaru's soul back to his body. Her eyes glanced at Bakusaiga, but she couldn't let herself worry about it right now. Getting his soul back to his body was more important.
She took a hesitant step forward when he ordered her to come to him once again.
His smirk returned as she started to walk forward. "What a good little miko, obeying your superior. Come on, closer."
Inuyasha propped himself up on an elbow and watched as Kagome's legs mechanically took her to Naraku. "Stop it, Kagome! He'll kill you!"
Naraku glared at her as she faltered slightly as she heard Inuyasha and glanced over at him. "Miko!" He was pleased when her attention was immediately pulled back towards him. "I said, come."
"Snap out of it, wench!" Inuyasha growled as he forced himself to his feet and charged towards them. He'd be damned if he let Kagome get killed in his presence. He was sure Sesshoumaru would break from the sphere and skin him if he did.
Naraku growled at the distraction until an idea struck him. He would test this command thing. "Miko, stop the mutt from advancing."
The Western prince blinked as she paused in her step and turned towards him. He really didn't expect that she would actually attack him, so he was caught off guard when she swung the blade once he was close enough. He cursed when the sharp edge cut across his chest, followed almost immediately was an immense burning sensation. He fell to his knees and grabbed at his chest, the burning sensation becoming too much. Was this her reiki? Fuck that shit hurt!
Beyond pleased at his results, he turned towards her once again. "Drop your sword," Once the sword hit the gravel with a thud, he commanded her to come to him once again. "Good, now come." He watched as she trekked over to him, her eyes narrowed with that defiant look he so clearly remembered. "Aw, what is wrong, Little Miko? Mad that you had to hurt your friend? That you had to follow my orders?"
"I hate you." She spat, glaring up at him once she stopped in front of him. She lifted her lip in disgust as he put his free hand on the back of her neck to hold her in place.
"Oh, the feeling is mutual," He laughed as he raised Bakusaiga and placed the sharp edge against her pale throat. "That is why I am going to kill you."
She lifted her left hand to place it on Bakusaiga's blade, trying to stop him from pressing it harder against her skin. At the same time, she gave her right arm a hard shake and felt the orb dislodge from its pocket. She easily caught it before slamming it against his upper chest, making sure the bottom of it caught on his armor to help shatter it. She closed her eyes tightly as a bright red light filled the small space between them.
"Bitch! What did you do!?" He snarled as he pushed her back away from him.
She winced as she felt the blade cut into her skin and she fell back on her backside. She opened her eyes when she heard a strangled growl and let her eyes fall on Sesshoumaru. She watched as he wrapped his arms around himself, growls of different tones and volume sounding from his lips. She then let out a small gasp when his knees buckled and hit the ground, his form slouching forward.
*~~~SSS~~~*
Naraku's crimson eyes glanced around the sudden darkness that surrounded him. Where was he? Wasn't he just in the process of killing that annoying miko? But, she had broken something on him. What was it? What did it do to him?
"Your fun has ended, Naraku."
He whirled around to see Sesshoumaru standing in before him. He took in his white yukata and knew that this was his soul. How had he gone back to the Otherworld? Or, had Sesshoumaru returned to the land of the living? If so, how? There was no way he came back with the mirror, so how? Was it that thing the miko broke against him?
"You look confused, hanyou filth."
He furrowed a brow and turned around again to see another Sesshoumaru standing behind him. This one was also wearing a white yukata, but his markings were jagged, his eyes red with blue pupils. What was this version of Sesshoumaru? Why were there two of them?
"What is this?" He snapped, looking between the two cautiously as they both took a step towards him. "Where am I?"
"We are still within my body." The first Sesshoumaru responded.
"And I am his other half." The beast added, voice rough with power.
"So, you are going to try to take your body back and send me to the Otherworld again?" Naraku asked with a snarl, red orbs glaring with hate.
"You are half correct," He began as his lifted his hand, his poison whip illuminating his fingers. "I already have my body back."
"But you are not going back to the Otherworld," The beast replied as he copied the gesture. "We are going to disintegrate your soul so you can never taint this world again."
For the first time in a very long time, Naraku was actually somewhat nervous. If they destroyed his soul, he would never be reincarnated, never be reborn into the world to bring under his rule again. "The Kami will hate you for destroying something they created." He warned. "Even I didn't destroy any souls; I let them go to their respectful places when I killed them."
"I care not about the Kami. I am doing this to be rid of you permanently. You have caused too much distress for my pack and allies. It ends here." Sesshoumaru said calmly as he glanced past Naraku to stare at his other half.
Naraku quickly looked between the two before snarling, "Damn you! Bast-!" They both cut him off as they flicked their wrists, their whips lashing out in a dance as they tore through Naraku's soul, shredding it as if it were parchment.
Once the hanyou vanished from his body, the darkness began to recede and Sesshoumaru could feel himself become lighter and more relaxed. He looked at his beast and lifted a single brow at his smirk. "What is it?" He asked.
He shook his head. "I am just waiting for you to tell me that I was right."
"And what, exactly, were you right about?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
His smirk grew. "About our miko."
Sesshoumaru's face deadpanned. "Go away, beast."
He grinned as his form began to disappear. "You know that I was."
His brow twitched, but didn't bother to reply as his beast vanished from his sight. At the same time, he felt his own being begin to tingle. He closed his eyes and let the feeling take over, seeking comfort in the warmth that consumed him as he anchored back into his body.
"Sesshoumaru?"
His eyes snapped open as he heard the miko's voice. He lifted his head and saw her kneeling in front of him, black brows furrowed in mix of worry and caution. With all the feelings and needs he had been feeling since he saw her in the Otherworld, his lifted his hand and cupped the back of her neck. He felt her stiffen for a moment at the contact, but drew her close regardless before slanting his lips over hers.
He decided then and there that the feeling of her kissing him back was something he would never grow tire of.
A/N: Meh, this chapter had fought me for two weeks. I'm slightly unhappy with it, but I feel that this was the best I could do :/ Sorry guys!
