So, I do in fact realize that it's been three months (again -_-) since I last updated. Seriously will not blame someone if they fire a virtual bullet between my eyes. GAH! So sorry! T_T Trust me when I say that I have NOT lost inspiration for this fic. College has simply been keeping me really busy. Not to worry, my inspiration is still as strong as ever. I mean, how can it not be when I have over 1,200 reviews from you readers! OMG! I love you all so much! In any case brownies and thanks to my most AWESOME and recent thirty reviewers: Sutenki, Neeky-chan, Bambam411, rukoitalian65, SaiyaCat, Momochan77, SarahBloomSakura, the-redhead-who-writes, loney, thelittlequietone, xXNeverlandFairyXx, LadyEllesmere, 12345678910, Cathy, wolfgurlaa, Ivana, Adele, funnylittlestory, Lady Akiyama, IVANA, Black Eclipsed Soul, Juhoni, HeartlessVampireGirl, kitty-kasey, NightsBlackRose1, Keiser, Fanficbackpure123, linallymeap, Tristi Lynne, and WildGirlFiction! *glomp hugs you all* Love you all! Thank you so much! Also, another huge thanks to all you readers who have already followed and/or favorited this story! :D You all are awesome! Anyhow, I hope you all enjoy chapter fifty-four. :)
SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO "Adele": There aren't even words for where I want to start here, especially after bursting into tears upon reading your review. All I can say, is that I am touched that something I wrote has helped you in such a way. No matter what, I want you to continue your fight. I want to believe you're still in this world to read this. So, don't give up. My prayers shall be with you.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha, the Inuyasha plot, NOR the Inuyasha characters. I only own my OCs Kaze Hijikata, Riko Hijikata, Toga Akatsuki, Shido of the Massacre, any other OCs created along the way, and any part of the plot NOT a part of the Inuyasha anime or manga. This fanfic, however, is MINE and I'd like to keep it that way.
Chapter 54-A Mountain's Calling
With Sesshomaru and Kaze/Approaching Mount Hakurei…
Golden eyes flickered down to the young woman cradled against him as he flew through the air. They narrowed slightly as he felt the female's energy shift for what was not the first time since he'd begun approaching Mount Hakurei. However, contrary to his intended's constantly shifting and melding energy, physically she had yet to even twitch.
The Daiyoukai let out a discontented growl, his beast having been coming and going in temperamental waves throughout the last several hours of flight. Casting a glance down towards the ground, Sesshomaru could easily spot his half-brother's pack trailing close behind him. The Western Lord's nose also told him that the rest of his own pack was also following close behind upon the back of Ah-Un.
Sesshomaru's lips were suddenly quick to pull back in a silent snarl as he felt the edge power of the sacred mountain's barrier crackle around him. Needless to say, it was with great annoyance that the Inu realized that flying was no longer an option since the energy used for such an ability would need to instead be used for forcing his way through the barrier. Because of this, the Daiyoukai reluctantly began his decent, casting a concerned glance down at his future mate. Fortunately, it didn't seem as though the barrier nor the pure air was causing the girl significant discomfort. Although, Sesshomaru himself would rather have carved out his own tongue than verbally admit that the barrier was affecting him in any way whatsoever.
"The barrier of Mount Hakurei is indeed powerful if it effects a man of such holy and virtuous stature as myself," the monk was saying as the Western Lord landed within the others' presence.
The Daiyoukai cast the man a brief glance, holding several well-grounded suspicions that the man was not nearly as holy and virtuous as he proclaimed to be, but at that time, such things were insignificant. "Miko, we are entering the mountain," he addressed the midnight-haired girl with a level, indisputable command. "You will tell this one precisely what effect it is having on his intended's condition."
Swallowing nervously, Kagome gingerly approached the Inu and her cousin before gently laying her hands upon the girl. Upon attempting to let her reiki probe into the other female's being, the miko was pleasantly taken-aback to find significantly less violent resistance than that of the last time. "The pace of her soul's mending is increasing, and she seems to be in less pain," Kagome confirmed after a moment before pausing with a light frown, "but I… I don't think it's because of the barrier or even the purity of Mount Hakurei."
Sesshomaru's eyebrow creased slightly while his eyes narrowed. "Explain," he ordered.
Grimacing, the midnight-haired girl lightly chewed at her bottom lip. "Well," she began uncertainly, continuing to gingerly sift through her cousin's swirling energies, "instead of letting the barrier's energy help her, it's almost like another energy is acting as a shield against it, so as to protect Kaze from harm. I just… I just can't for the life of me figure out what this other energy is…" Kagome trailed off slowly before her eyes suddenly lit up. "Hold it!" she exclaimed.
"What did you find?" Sesshomaru demanded.
"The other energy protecting her, it's coming straight from the mountain," the young woman stated with wide, shocked eyes.
"From the mountain?" the Western Lord questioned with a suspicious expression.
"Kagome, are you sure of this?" Miroku inquired, approached the trio with a strangely concerned look on his face.
"Yes, I'm sure," Kagome bit back an irritated huff. "I can feel the link. Somehow Kaze has unconsciously connected herself directly to the stream of life energy flowing through the mountain itself."
"I see," Miroku replied, his eyes holding a grave, thoughtful look to them that did not go unnoticed by the rest of the group. "In that case," the monk continued after a moment, "I do believe we should get Kaze as deep into the mountain as we are able and as quickly as possible."
"What's up, Miroku?" Inuyasha cut in, having remained silent up until now. "Did you figure something else out?"
A small smile graced the monk's face as gave his friend a look, "Not necessarily. However, if Kaze is indeed connected to the mountain then it would only make sense to get her as close to it as possible, right?"
"Indeed," Sesshomaru hummed, giving the man a scrutinizing look before turning away to continue up the beaten path. Nothing else mattered to him at the moment besides getting his intended somewhere safe where she could heal.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" a small tug at his sleeve made him pause. Peering down, golden eyes met wide, scared brown as apparently his ward had clamored down from the back of Ah-Un.
"What is it, Rin?" he addressed the child calmly.
"Miss Kaze," Rin spoke with shaky uncertainty, "she's going to be okay, right?"
"Hn," the Daiyoukai instantly confirmed. "She will be fine."
With Naraku/Deep within Mount Hakurei…
It was deep within the dark caves, filled with the hisses and snarls of lower level youkai and concealed by a powerful barrier that one could find irritated crimson eyes glaring into his servant's mirror. With a tsk of frustration Naraku leaned back in his seat as the emotionless Kanna stood before him. There reflected in her looking glass, the hanyou could see clear as daylight the most dangerous out of all his enemies. Growling, his eyes narrowed. They weren't supposed to have found him here, at least not yet. As it was currently, there was no way the two groups could have known of his presence on the mountain. So, why were they here? Once again, Naraku found his gaze drawn to the unconscious form of the Western Lord's spiritualist. What had happened to her anyways for her to become like this?
"Ah, a rare opportunity," Naraku's expression broke out into a malicious grin as his crimson gaze flicked over to Sesshomaru. If he could get the proud fool away from the girl then it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce himself to her. Once she woke up, of course, where she would then find herself properly imprisoned for study. For she really was a fascinating creature. Even from deep within the mountain the hanyou could feel how turbulent her unique energy was. In reality, despite them both being spiritualist's, hers was quite different from that maniacal fool whom Naraku had met only weeks prior.
"Speaking of that heathen," the hanyou frowned. "Just what is he attempting to accomplish?"
For by using Kanna's mirror, Naraku had been able to keep a relatively close eye on the man. However, all that he seemed to be doing was keeping relatively close to the party, his presence completely hidden, and biding his time for something. What that something was, the spider lurking in the depths of Mount Hakurei was not entirely sure of. But what he was sure of was the man's presence hovering around the mountain.
"A mad hunter…" the hanyou mused with a smirk. He would let Shido of the Massacre do as he wished for now. "Who knows… if the girl wakes up before I get to her, that fool may actually do his job and just finish her for me," Naraku chuckled at the thought as he stood. "Either prospect is acceptable."
With Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's Packs/On Mount Hakurei…
The two temporarily aligned packs continued to make their way up the mountain on foot, some faring better than others and some faring worse due to the barrier. However, while the barrier may have dulled some of the intruder's senses it had by no means cut them off completely. Hence the reason the two alphas of their respective packs suddenly stopped up short.
"I'm guessing you smell it too," Inuyasha growled, casting a side glance over towards his older brother.
"Hn," Sesshomaru replied, golden eyes narrowing in cold annoyance, "the scent of graveyard soil."
"The Band of Seven again?" Kagome inquired tersely as she stepped up next to the two males' sides.
"Smells like it," the hanyou spat distastefully. "They're coming this way, fast too. Damn, at the rate they're moving it's almost like the barrier isn't affecting them at all."
"But that doesn't make any sense," Sango stated in confusion. "Going on that they're akin to evil specters, the barrier ought to affect them all the more."
"Sango is right," Miroku affirmed with a frown. "Something does indeed seem to be off with the barrier, almost as if someone was altering it according to their own whims. After all, how else would one explain why a sacred barrier would affect a holy man such as myself?"
"… Cause at the core, you're just a lecher?" Sango deadpanned with a raised eyebrow.
"Ain't that the truth," Inuyasha groused flatly.
"In any case," the monk coughed lightly into his hand, slightly miffed. "It would also explain why those as vile as the Band of Seven seem to be getting through with ease."
Sesshomaru eyebrows knit together slightly as he listened in on the conversation, "Could Naraku have something to do with the barrier's behavior. Such a thing shouldn't be possible for any Youkai to achieve, let alone a hanyou. But still…"
"Well, whatever the case, we've got a fight on our hands with these bastards now whether we want it or not," Inuyasha snapped in annoyance, drawing Tetsusaiga.
"Agreed," Miroku replied. "However," he continued after a moment, "I believe our best move here would also be for me, Sango, and Kagome to continue deeper into the mountain seeing as we're the only ones who – mostly – aren't effected by the barrier. Also," the monk then turned to address the silent Western Lord amidst their group, "with your permission, Lord Sesshomaru, I think it would be best if we took Kaze deeper in with us as well. For as it stands, the further we enter the mountain, the better her condition seems to be faring. Not only that, but I'm sure even you would agree that it would be unwise for her to remain this near to the fighting seeing as she is still unconscious. Who knows, if we take her a little further in, she might just go ahead and wake up."
Cold, golden eyes narrowed dangerously at the monk before him, a low growl rising unbidden to the back of the Daiyoukai's throat. His beast was snarling furiously in the back of his head at the thought of letting his intended out of his sight… again. As it stood, it was taking all of his more reasonable side's effort to keep the more feral side of himself at bay.
The scent of graveyard soil was getting stronger. There were three of them, and as his younger half-brother had stated, they were fast approaching.
He needed to make a decision.
By very instinct, his grip on the young woman laying cradled in his arms tightened. Eyes flicking downward, he carefully studied her motionless features. The stillness didn't suit her. She needed to wake up.
Expression darkening, the Western Lord turned his gaze to the direction where their three enemies were rapidly approaching. Begrudgingly, he remembered the recent fight with Ginkotsu. The explosions that the machine man lit off caused significant collateral damage to the surrounding area. These three new opponent's abilities were unknown.
And a place where collateral damage was even a possibility was no place for his unconscious intended to be.
Sesshomaru let out a dark growl before turning back to the monk, his decision made. With exceptionally careful movements, he deposited his future mate into the man's grasp. "Insure that she awakens," he ordered coldly, gold eyes gleaming with warning.
"Of course, Lord Sesshomaru," Miroku stated calmly.
"Hn," the Inu replied simply, stubbornly suppressing the outraged howl that echoed from the beast within him. Drawing Tokijin from his belt, he then turned to address his ward, "Rin?"
"Yes, Lord Sesshomaru?" the child answered quickly.
"You shall go with them as well," he instructed her coolly. "Behave and stay out of harm's way."
"Okay," Rin smiled softly, before running over to stand next to Kagome.
The young miko smiled slightly at the action before turning to address the Western Lord. "I'll look after her in Kaze's stead," she promised earnestly.
"Hn."
"Alright, let's go," Sango encouraged, leading the way for the rest of the humans in the group as they continued their trek up the mountain.
Watching until they vanished from sight, Inuyasha then briefly turned to Shippo, "Hey, take Kirara and move up out of the way."
"Erm… right," the fox kit replied nervously, clambering onto the feline's back.
Silence…
"I found you… my darling Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha blanched as he spotted Jakotsu perch himself up on the rocks ahead.
Sesshomaru stared blankly at his younger half-brother.
The youth grit his teeth.
"Don't ask."
Well, there ya all have chapter fifty-four! Yay! Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure how I wanted to end this chapter. So, I decided to throw in a scrap of humor before shit starts hitting the fan next chapter. Fufufufu... I can't wait for all secrets to be revealed! In any case, pretty please leave me your thoughts on this chapter (and what you think will happen) in a review for me. :) Seriously, I can't believe how awesome you all have been in the reviews. It's kept my inspiration level sky high. So keep up the awesome work and I'll start working on the next chapter. Also, please follow and favorite as well. :) See you all next time! :D
Rock Out!
Kira
