Ch. 88- The Holy Relic
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
The group sat in a small riverboat with Kirara pulling it along in front of them. Sango sat on the nekomata's back, her Hiraikotsu at the ready. As they made their way across the lake, a shroud of mist soon began to form around them, clouding their vision.
"This mist," Sango whispered. "I sense something coming up ahead. Get ready for anything."
"Right," said Taromaru.
"...So, Kagome," Inuyasha said. "What was that you said, earlier?"
"Oh, my god, can you let it go?" asked Kagome in exasperation.
"I'm just curious!" Inuyasha replied. "What did you say?!"
"Forget it!" Kagome barked.
"Ugh, fine!" Inuyasha groaned. "Women..."
"...I'm not the only one who sees it, right?" asked Shippo in a hushed tone. "There's definitely something going on between those two, don't you think?"
"You're only seeing it, now?" Miroku whispered. "I could see it the moment we met."
"Really?" Shippo whispered. "So I'm not imagining things!"
"Hey! What are you two mumbling about over there?!" Inuyasha questioned.
"Yeah, don't act like we're not here!" Kagome added.
"Nothing, nothing!" Miroku and Shippo replied while Taromaru rolled his eyes.
"Grownups..." he muttered.
"Hey!" Sango called to the others. "Look alive, everybody! There's something up ahead!"
In the mist, the group could just barely make out the shape of a Torii gate.
"There it is!" Taromaru exclaimed. "The Water God's shrine!"
"Good," Inuyasha said while he held the Tetsusaiga. "Which means that whatever's behind this, its lair will just beyond this shrine."
Soon...a huge castle came into view.
"That's a shrine?" asked Kagome. "Even my family's shrine isn't that huge! That looks more like a castle to me!"
"The sacrifice may already be inside," Miroku surmised, which caused Taromaru to gasp in horror.
"Quick! We have to hurry!" the boy urged. "If they figure out he's a substitute, the village could be decimated!" He then noticed two strange men dressed in the traditional garb of castle guards...but these men had reddened skin and sharp teeth, and if one didn't know better, it almost looked like they had crab claws for hands.
"Gatekeepers...!" Taromaru whispered before he ducked his head. "Quick, get down before they see you!"
"Keh!" Inuyasha scoffed. "And just what will that accomplish?" He soon leapt out of the boat in front of the guards, who growled as they charged with their spears...a futile attempt, really.
It wasn't long before the half-demon effortlessly dispatched of them.
"Whoa...so strong...!" Taromaru whispered in awe.
"That's Inuyasha for you," Kagome smiled, proudly.
"Yeah! He's really strong!" exclaimed Shippo.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Inuyasha asked. "We're in a hurry, right?!"
XXX
Inside the shrine, two guards that had the faces of river carp approached the main quarters...dragging with them the young masked boy. He quietly walked in between, putting up no struggle or effort to escape...but he subtly shivered in fear.
Soon, the two guards sat before the throne room.
"O revered Water God," said one of the guards. "We have brought you the sacrifice."
"...Boy...step forward," said an ominous voice, causing the child to hesitantly step inside, prostrating himself before a man with pale skin and wearing magnificent clothes similar to the kinds that Japanese lords would wear. Beside him stood a trident, standing on a pedestal of coral.
"Hmm?" the Water God hummed as he narrowed his eyes...staring at the child's hands. "Your hands...they are filthy and calloused...you are not the village headman's son."
The boy gasped beneath his mask in horror.
"What is the meaning of this?!" the Water God questioned. "Did they really believe they could deceive me, the almighty Water God?!"
"Please, great Water God!" cried the boy. "Spare the village and devour me, instead!"
Suddenly, the Water God's arm stretched out...and grabbed the boy's head, lifting him up above the floor.
"Surely you jest," said the Water God. "There is no forgiveness for this. How else would I keep my dignity as a god?!" He tightened his grip, causing the mask on the boy's face to crack...and soon, his skull would meet the same fate. "The bloody scraps of your body will swirl in the flood I set loose upon your village, brat!"
However, before he could make due on his threat...he heard the sound of encroaching footsteps.
"What? Intruders?!" the Water God questioned.
XXX
"Get the hell OUTTA MY WAY!"
With a roar, Inuyasha punched his way through many more guards, quickly disarming them of their spears. Not too far from him, Miroku and Sango also jumped into the fray, beating down as many guards as they could.
"How dare you impede on sacred ground?!" yelled one of the guards, only for Inuyasha to punch him right between his eyes.
"Ah, shaddup!" the dog demon spat. However, as the guard hit the floor...his body disintegrated into foam and out scuttled a little river crab.
"Well, I don't think it's necessary to fight these things, is it?" asked Sango as she and Miroku followed after Inuyasha.
"I don't think so!" Miroku replied as he whacked two more guards into the lake...causing them to shrink down into carp. "See? They're just carp and river crab, transformed by some magic spell!"
"Hey, wait up for us!" Kagome called as she ran after them with Taromaru and Shippo following after.
Soon, the group arrived at the throne room...where the Water God held the boy in his clutches.
"Oh, no!" cried Taromaru.
"M...Master Taromaru...!" the boy whispered. "You're here...!"
"Suekichi!" Taromaru shouted. "Hang on! We're here to save you!"
"Well, well," said the Water God. "The headman's real son was here all along, eh?"
"Put Suekichi down!" Taromaru yelled. "Take my life instead!"
"That's enough, kid," Inuyasha said as he pushed the boy out of the way. "Didn't you hire us to take care of this chump for ya?"
"Huh?" Taromaru muttered.
"Stand back," Inuyasha said. "This won't take long." He then drew the Tetsusaiga. "'Water God', my ass. Just what the hell kind of a demon are you?!" With that, he charged at the Water God...who smirked as he grabbed the trident at his side, and with a single thrust, he pushed Inuyasha back and reverted his sword to its normal form! "What the...?! What did he do to my Tetsusaiga?!"
"Foolish child," said the Water God. "Do you really think your demon blade could withstand the power of my holy relic, the Trident of Amakoi?!"
"Why you...!" Inuyasha growled as he attempted to charge again, but this time, he was quickly held back by Miroku.
"Hold on, Inuyasha!" the monk cried. "This doesn't look good. That trident he holds is no joke. I've seen my fair share of holy relics, and that thing's nothing to laugh at!"
"So what?!" Inuyasha questioned.
"But...if what he's holding is really a sacred weapon," Kagome began, "then does that mean that this isn't a demon we're dealing with?! He might be an actual Water God?!"
"Don't tell me you guys are turnin' chicken on me!" Inuyasha spat. "Even if he is a god, an evil one's no different than a demon! In fact, if you ask me, it's worse!"
"It might be worse," Sango began, "but if we bring his ire, we could bring out about more suffering!"
"She's right, Inuyasha," Miroku said. "No matter what, the gods are not to be messed with!"
"Hmph!" the Water God scoffed. "Too late for that, I'm afraid."
"Uh-oh..." Kagome muttered with dread.
Dun-dun-DUN! Sorry for the short chapter, but the next one will be a little longer, hopefully.
Review, please!