~Well Hi! hope everyone is alright with this covid crap, ive been hit hard with all the chaos, my laptop dying on my included. SO! I just got a new one and hope to start getting chapters out soon! here you guys go!~
"We've killed lots of demons but I think I would remember killing another dragon! The only ones we have killed were both male!" Kagome sassed at the young boy, eyes alight with challenge. She wasn't exactly the biggest fan of death. Though she had come to terms that it went hand and hand with this era, didn't mean she liked it. So every life they had taken as a group she thoroughly remembered.
But dragon daiyoukai were especially easy to remember. Ryukotsusei, Inuyasha's father's enemy, and Ryura from the island of half demons. No female Dragon. And she told young Ryu of this.
"I have no reason to believe you. My sister told me of her fate when she released me."
"And was this fate told to her by Naraku?" Kagome jumped on the opportunity, seeing the hesitation build in his eyes as soon as the words left her mouth.
"How did you-"
"Because I told you, it wasn't us. Naraku is evil and he'll use whoever will listen to him. To make things worse he can change his shape, make you think he's someone or something else. He's the worst!" Kagome snapped, and glared at the boy who only slightly recoiled, his face contorting into dismay. Kagome felt her anger evaporate as pitty swelled in her chest. What was it with these kids and pulling her heart strings.
"You're just a kid…" Kagome said quietly, her face softening as she met his bright green eyes. The worst she could do is ignore a grieving child. Her brother, Shippo, Shiori, the half demons… The confusion in the young demon's face made her want to pull him into a hug. "I understand wanting to avenge your mother. No matter your age, losing a parent is terrible. I lost my own father a while ago…" Ryu glanced up at her, his face mildly red from his emotions swelling beyond his control.
"How?" Ryu asked quietly in turn, shifting closer to her.
"An accident. It was before my little brother was born. You look a little older than him."
Ryu shifted more, seeming to uneasily contemplate something. Glancing at the archway his sister had disappeared through, he leaned into her stone resting place, his eyes downcast.
"My sister has been acting strange ever since she released me. Wild, angry, she has always been so composed before mother sealed us away. I wish to know what could have happened to mother to make her this way. Tell me about this Naraku."
Kagome nodded, and dove into her tale of all she knew of Naraku. All though shortened, as she was pressed for time not knowing when Chiyako would return.
"That's how he manipulates people he thinks will be of use to them. Your sister has one in her forehead."
Ryu's eyes narrowed as she explained the jewel shard to him. Though he had sensed something off about his sister, what she claimed seemed to explain it thoroughly. "This artifact.."
"Dear brother what on earth are you doing?" The icy voice cut across them just as fresh tendrils snapped up, wrapping around Kagome and slamming her back down onto the stone slab. Her head cracked and she cried out in pain, stars blooming across her vision.
Distantly she heard Ryu offering explanations and arguments, but the words themselves wouldn't stay long enough for her to process them. It felt like only a second later, she felt the familiar sensation of her chest burning and exploding. The turning of her stomach and the stillness of her body reminding her of the horror of the last time her soul was sucked from her body.
'Please not again! Inuyasha!'
"Oof!" Inuyasha grunted as he was tossed into the sand, pushing himself up and sputtering sand from his mouth. Sesshomaru touched down after him, his boots sinking into the damp sand as he gracefully collected himself.
"You didn't need to drop me you bastard." Inuyasha growled. Sesshomaru offered no response and passed him, eyes firm and set upon the Shiro just ahead. Old and worn down, the walls were crumbling and decaying. Vines and weeds crawling up the stone and wood that looked as though it would break with the smallest touch.
Silently Sesshomaru continued to stride towards the shiro, his keen nose picking up traces of Naraku's miasma, but no fresh tale of his scent.
"Naraku was here." Sesshomaru growled, taking off in a flash to storm the rotten palace. The rest of the group exchanged quick glances with each other before following just as quickly, Inuyasha bringing up the rear.
"That's quite surprising." Miroku commented, cringing at the 'decor'. "Considering the damage he was dealt so recently."
Sango nodded, urging Kirara to follow sesshomaru faster.
"Feh. Just means he's getting desperate. Which means he's gonna get sloppy and he'll be easier to kill." Inuyasha called from behind them.
"A cornered animal is more dangerous Inuyasha, we should be careful." Sango retorted, Miroku nodding.
The stench of death filled the halls, as if the walls were filled with corpses and blood. Sesshomaru scowled at the stench, but continued leading the way along the rotting walkways. Within the stone and wood structure, dirt and mold clung to every crevasse, the halls and doors twisted and turned. Had he not caught Naraku's scent, they would be lost quickly. Kagome's was too faint to have a proper trail.
"What do you think Naraku is doing in an old place like this?" Sango asked out loud, to anyone who would answer.
"A good question Sango." Miroku said from behind her, taking in the rotten structure as they flew past. "Naraku likes to keep his lair fairly nice, if not covered in his own disgusting body." Miroku scrunched up his face as he spoke. Sango nodded with him.
"Whatever decorating habits Naraku has picked up, be ready!" Inuyasha bounded past them, gaining on Sesshomaru as they barreled down a main hall, each one shouldering a door as they smashed them down. Each grinding to a halt as they took in the sight of the main hall in front of them.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed from her place on her pedestal, drawing the attention of their entire party. A purple barrier had formed around her, bubbling just a few inches around her as a swarm of black ink seemed to float above her. Just beyond her, a regal daiyoukai with her hands hovering over the barrier. Her red eyes snapped open as they approached.
"First this blasted barrier, now company? You're becoming a lot of trouble." She growled, slowly stepping around the altar, her hand hovering just over the barrier blocking her from her desires. "Two mutts, a slayer and a priest…" She glanced over her shoulder, following a gauge of destroyed stone floor to a crater in one of the stone walls.
A crater that cradled the small body of Ryu. Slumped and still against the stone.
"It's a shame I came across this girl trying to corrupt my little brother. I could use his help." She said blandly, returning her gaze to her intruders.
"Stop your jabbering and let Kagome go! What the hell do you think you're doing with her anyways?" Inuyasha unsheathed tessaiga, barring it at the woman.
"Taking what is mine dog." She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arm across her chest and throwing it back out at them, a wave of lightning bursting from her fingertips towards them.
Everyone scattered from the attack, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha taking the first opportunity to charge.
"Sango!" Miroku called, gesturing to the crumpled boy in the corner. Sango nodded and dashed towards him, the sounds of battle echoing in the chamber.
"Hey can you hear me?" Sango gently shook his shoulder, rousing him awake. Bright green eyes hazily glanced around the chamber before falling on Sango.
"A Slayer and a Monk? Are you Kagome's friends?" He asked drowsily, head swaying with the attempt to fully wake up.
"We're gonna get you and Kagome out of here just-"
A loud explosion rippled through the cavern and the ceiling caved, shattering pebbled and dust all around. Sango and Miroku casted glances back at the fight. Only to their horror, to immediately notice Kagome's purple barrier had swelled to several feet.
"This is bad." Miroku breathed. Sango whipped her head back to him, wondering what it is he saw. The monk's face was pale, his purple eyes wide with shock. For within the barrier, floating around like murk and ooze, were two giant red eyes that blinked and followed each move of the three fighters. Whatever was contained with Kagome, wanted out.
Kagome knew it too.
Within the shield the voice cackled and mocked, chanting words of disgust and anger to Kagome, promising the demise of her friends and all she held dear the moment her barrier would fall.
"Naraku seeks my aid and has even provided the boy's body for me. He is small but will grow far beyond my expectations with my spirit within him." The voice taunted, kagome wincing as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, pain and strain in her chest becoming overwhelming.
"Miroku what do you see?"
"Nothing good." He whispered.
"He sees magatsuhi's true power, sealed within Kagome awaiting to be released." Ryu said, watching with a mix of awe and horror.
Meanwhile, Kagome jerked her head to the side to see Inuyasha and Sesshomaru fighting, another sharp pain causing her to gasp. The small noise caught Sesshomaru's attention, and he met her eyes with a quick glance.
"Sesshomaru kill it!" Kagome begged, feeling cracks begin to form in her barrier and a mirrored sensation in her chest.
Inuyasha barked out a sharp retaliation while batting away Chiyako. "Feh! Go help Kagome I got this wench!"
Sesshomaru paused, glancing back at the dragon demon then back at Kagome, contemplation and frustration radiating in his face. Kagome grinded her teeth and managed to shoot him a glare.
She trusted Sesshomaru, despite his shortcomings, despite her confusion with his sudden interest in her, despite their past disputes. The way he looked at her, the way he encouraged her and guided her, how hard he fought for her freedom now, knowing there was nothing for him to gain here besides her safety, she trusted him.
Feeling the secure and grounded sensation of her confidence in Sesshomaru, she took as deep of a breath as she could manage.
"Do it sesshomaru!" Kagome yelled, feeling the bubble of containment begin to splinter, much longer and Magatsuhi's essence and power would be free.
Sesshomaru blinked at Kagome's command as he watched the swirl of purple miasma within her barrier. Yes he wanted to be rid of Magatsuhi quickly, but a strike from his tokijin may very well kill his soulmate in the process.
A throb at his hip drew his attention. Tenseiga pulsing rapidly as it called to him, speaking in pulses of aura expressing it's desires.
Sesshomaru glanced back at kagome, watching her writhe and squirm on the altar, sweat dripping from her brow. Tenseiga could not harm the living, but it could destroy those already in the grave. If he struck, would he harm her soul? Knowing it was formed of the past priestesses and slayers that Midoriko had blessed with part of her soul?
Gritting his teeth, Sesshomaru sheathed tokiji and ripped Tenseiga out to replace it, a growl forming in the back of his throat. Bokusenōs words echoed in his head, a small memory that suddenly seemed too big and important to forget 'The blade has infinite more power than you give it credit for.'
'Do not fail me, Tenseiga.'
He bounded forward, leaping high into the air above the barrier, raising his sword as the cracks and splinters of her barrier began to shatter, miasma creeping through like oil on glass. With a grunt he swung down as the barrier broke, white light expanding from his Tenseiga as it sliced in between Magatsuhi's transparent eyes. A cry of anguish erupted from the vanquished spirit, and sesshomaru landed on the altar as the miasma dissipated around him.
Looking down at Kagome as he stood over her, he slightly knelt to check her breathing. "Kagome?"
The Preistess' eyes shot open and immediately a blast of air and light exploded from her chest, throwing sesshomaru from her.
"Kagome?!" Inuyasha yelled, confused as to what sesshomaru had done and what would happen next.
"No! How dare you!" Chiyako snarled, arm blocking her face from the bright light. Inuyasha however saw his opportunity, quickly and silently dashing towards Chiyako with his sword ready.
Chiyako flinched and swung once to try to hit Inuyasha before he reached her, but he was faster. With a bound he leaped over her arm and flipped mid air, bringing his sword down on her with a battle cry.
Inuyasha's blade scored across her forehead, a small hit, but enough. His eyes widened as his strike drew not only a spray of blood, but a dark jewel shard as well. HE snagged it out of the air before he landed firmly on the ground once more.
Chiyako snarled, stumbling forward after Inuyasha. But her body convulsed, and with a soft cough her mouth gushed blood. Her arm wrapped around her abdomen as her robes began to show bright red stains. Another cough, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Chiyako no!" Ryu cried, collapsing beside his sister and pushing back her silver hair from her face. "Sister! Sister?" He pleaded, lightly tapping her cheek as her eyes focused and unfocused.
"Dear brother…" She wheezed, her shaking hand reaching to grip his wrist lightly. "That beast… Naraku… He did this, to me… to mother…" She coughed again, the river not slowing. "He wants… you… your power… when you grow…" Another wet cough, and Ryu gripped her hand in his tiny ones, tears filling his eyes. "My dear brother…" She sighed, letting one gentle cough ripple through her as her body went slack. Her eyes glossed over, the life within her fading from her irises.
"He used his usual tricks." Sango snarled, dropping her hirakosu as she came closer to Ryu, meeting Chiyako's blank gaze over his shoulder. "The same thing he did to me, murdered my family, restored my brother with a shard, and used him against me." Sango quivered, her eyes filling with rage and sorrow. Ryu slowly looked at her over his shoulder, silent little tears falling down his puffy cheeks.
"You… Kagome told me about you and your brother... He really did that?" His little chest rapidly rose and fell, more tears building in his eyes.
"Oh…" Sango gasped, her rage dying a little at the sight of his devastated face. "Oh… oh…" Sango gently reached forward and pulled the boy demon into her arms, tucking his head under her chin. "Yes he did… But we're going to take him down. I promise you we are gonna take him down."
"We must leave this place. The stink is horrendous." Miroku murmured, carefully watching Sesshomaru stare at Kagome, his face unreadable as Inuyasha approached her and picked her up, the priestess out cold.