Nocturne - Chapter Forty-Four: The Bastard Army
Rated - M (for suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, and coarse language)
o - o - o - o - o : Indicates scene or POV change
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
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Kagome's mind raced along with her thundering heart. What could this wild creature want with her? Why toy with her? She pushed Setsuna almost underneath her body, covering her child with as much of herself as possible to keep the crazy man away.
"I see you went and made one yourself," the hanyo sneered as he crouched over her. His clawed hand went out and picked up a loose strand of Setsuna's long white hair that covered the ground. She shivered and still held Rei close to her chest. The small nekomata made a menacing growl in her arms, a warning.
Kagome smacked his hand away. "Touch her and see where I send you," she hissed, placing extra malice on her emphasis of "I."
"So protective is the bitch of her pup," he laughed.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled reflexively. He had not moved, still standing protectively in front of Shizuka. He seemed at war with himself over whether to protect his current love over his former.
Kagome could see from the corner of her eye as one of the new hanyo stalked closer to where Inuyasha stood. He threatened Shizuka's safety should Inuyasha leave to defend Kagome and Setsuna. Inuyasha knew he was being pinned down and made his choice to stay put.
"I wonder what it is about you that seems to drive them to protect you?" Feng said softly. His arms were now placed on either side of Kagome and Setsuna. "You don't seem that special, and you're not even that pretty." He made an amused face. "Either way, Father wants you." He chuckled at his inner thoughts.
Her spiritual powers teemed just below the surface, ready to spill over and blow the hanyo away. However, Kagome was afraid to unleash the holy light with Setsuna next to her. What impact would that have on her, who also had yokai blood running through her veins? Would it kill her? That was a risk Kagome could not and would not take, so she protected her with her body and life, if necessary.
Kagome heard a rumbling from beneath her, like some feral animal trapped in a corner. At first, she thought the sound came from Rei, who had not yet struggled to be free, but she realized it was coming from the small girl upon second thought. Setsuna's small arm pushed out from beside her mother and grabbed the hanyo's haori, pulling him closer to them both with a fantastic display of strength for one so small.
"Mother is beautiful," she growled along with Rei. "Father says so!" She released his haori and put her palm flat, with a glowing light emanating from it.
Kagome gaped at the sight, having never witnessed such a thing from her child. She watched in astonishment, and Setsuna released a blast of spiritual energy that sent the hanyo flying backward. Kagome flew up and pulled Setsuna off the ground as well, and they retreated back to where Sango stood to guard the younglings.
They watched curiously as Feng convulsed on the ground for a moment. He had collapsed within himself and grabbed his arms, pulling into a fetal position before his legs pushed straight again. His silver-white hair seemed to glitch, and what Kagome could only describe as a wave of mortality ebbed over him as his yokai features diminished, revealing human ears and coloring for but a brief moment. The entire episode was over all too quickly, and Feng jumped up in shock.
All who watched did so in a shock of their own at the display, and the quarrel was forgotten momentarily. Even the new hanyo intruders had dropped their defenses and gaped openly at their comrade.
Feng grimaced and retreated silently, launching himself away and into the far reaches of the woods beyond the perimeter of the village. The hanyo's brethren followed suit immediately, jumping off and away, leaving Kagome and her friends dumbfounded and alone.
They all hurried back to the safety of the village immediately, no one questioning what they saw. It was best to wait until they could regroup before discussing the matter, lest they open themselves up to another attack they were woefully unprepared for.
Sango led the children to their respective homes, telling each of the child's parents of their disobedience, to which they were promised swift punishment for placing their young lives in danger.
They regrouped half an hour later at Sango's home, which was the most significant occupancy in the village by now, boasting multiple rooms and a sliding door.
Rin had accompanied Kohaku to this impromptu meeting after learning of the occurrence, refusing to be left alone for her safety. She assured her husband that it was much safer among her friends than alone, to which Kohaku grudgingly agreed. He'd initially wanted her far away from them, for fear that they would be attacked again. But, he took solace in knowing her words were valid.
Minus Miroku, who was still away on a working trip with his two eldest daughters, the rest of the group assembled around the hearth. They sat in solemn silence for a moment, each contemplating the severity of the situation. Inuyasha held Shizuka in his arms, whose head was buried in his chest, looking for an outlet to express her quiet grief. Kohaku also held Rin in a loose grip, stroking the side of her arm.
Setsuna broke the silence. "Mother, what did I do to that man?" She stared down at her hand in curiosity, turning her palm up and down.
Everyone in the room, except Rin, also wondered the same thing. Kagome grabbed Setsuna's hand and wrapped it in her own. "It was spiritual power, like mine."
The child nodded her head, not taking her eyes from her hand as if it would spontaneously erupt with light at any moment. Setsuna had never witnessed her mother use her holy powers, there had never been any need, and Kagome had fallen out of practice.
"So she inherited your abilities, big deal." Inuyasha dismissed any relevance with a wave. "But what would be nice to know is what happened and the monk, of all people, may have the best chance of explaining."
Sango nodded in agreement. "I've never seen the likes of it."
Rin spoke up tentatively. She'd been apprised at the circumstances by Kohaku earlier but had not witnessed the oddity. "No one has seen the effects of spiritual power released on one of mixed blood. I imagine what Setsuna possesses is unique."
Sango considered for a moment. "What would kill a yokai, erasing it from existence, does the same for a hanyo, leaving only a human behind."
Inuyasha's eyes flashed with unease at the notion. "We don't know anything."
"You saw it with your own eyes, same as me," Kohaku insisted. "It even cowed our enemy enough to retreat."
"He was a fucking pussy and hyped up on himself like some arrogant little cock."
Kagome shot a needled gaze at him. "Sounds familiar to someone I know."
Inuyasha sneered at the thought. "I ain't nothing like that kid."
"So," Setsuna broke in. "If I did something like that to Uncle Inuyasha, he...he would die?" her soft voice broke.
"No! No, that wouldn't happen. Don't think like that, darling," Kagome consoled. She pulled Setsuna close, mimicking how Inuyasha held Shizuka.
"You really think you can kill me, runt? Ask your mom. I ain't that easy to get rid of." Inuyasha's words seemed to put Setsuna at ease, and she smiled at her uncle.
Shizuka clutched his suikan and looked up at Inuyasha's face lovingly. Kagome couldn't help but think that the woman was an enigma. It was also perplexing and a revelation that the hanyo had called her sister. "Keyuri?" Kagome said, testing out the name.
Shizuka's head snapped up in alarm at the name. Her eyes forlorn while she opened her mouth to say words that would never pass her lips. She quickly closed her mouth and clenched her jaw, nodding her head.
Everyone quickly recalled that event and began articulating their confusion aloud.
"'Sister,' he said."
"She is the half-blood daughter of Fan Tsenpo?" Kagome questioned. "I suppose it makes sense."
"Most yokai would kill a hanyo on sight," Kohaku mentioned, looking at Inuyasha. "No offense," he added quickly, recalling the sensitive topic for several people in the room. Inuyasha grunted his assent, and Kohaku continued. "Why would a daiyokai even deign to mate with a human in the first place?" He then glanced at Kagome, who gave him a pointed look.
"Look," Kohaku said, "All in this room are exceptions to the rule that most yokai are biased, intolerant beings with a superiority complex. It would not make sense for any of you to even exist without a clear intent for the alternative to be true."
"You've made your point, little brother," Sango interjected. "The mystery now lies in understanding why a bigoted daiyokai would go out of his way to do so. From what we know, which is very little, he is unhinged, yet patient."
"This is all too similar to Naraku," Inuyasha recalled. "That fucker would plot the day away. But we don't even know what this new dickhead wants or why he would bother fucking with us."
Kohaku shook his head in disagreement. "It seems fairly clear that he has targeted us in association with Lady Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru."
"Keh. Fucking figures, he would drag us into this shit. Where is he anyway, huh Kagome?"
"Hold your tongue, Inuyasha. Is that the example you set for those who may look up to you?" Kagome chided with a stern tone and gave a subtle look in Setsuna's direction. The girl held her uncle in high esteem, much to Sesshomaru's chagrin. Kagome had made sure that Sesshomaru had nothing derogatory to say about his younger half-brother in their daughter's presence, lest Setsuna develop an inferior view of herself.
Inuyasha grumbled to himself. "You know what I mean!"
"I can only imagine that these few slipped through the perimeter, and there are more than what we've seen," Kagome rationed. It had dawned on her that Sesshomaru had kept the severity of the situation to himself. He must have known that these intruders were all half-bloods from across the sea, sent to spy and stir up trouble. She felt anger well up in her chest to think he'd kept something so important from her as if she were a small child incapable of handling the reality of their circumstances. He was treating her as less than what she was, and it was infuriating to be kept in the dark and coddled like some delicate flower.
Rin stretched her legs and placed her hands upon her large belly, grunting with effort to make even the smallest move. Her husband, Kohaku, sat at attention and helped her move to a new position, ever alert to her needs. Rin had pieced together what her eyes had not seen. "He's created an army…"
"An army?" Inuyasha asked in perplexion. To fathom a battalion of hanyos like himself was incomprehensible.
"It makes perfect sense. It's genius."
"It's unheard of."
"But, why?"
"Think about it? How difficult would it be to rally an army of yokai? There are always struggles for power within the ranks. And no yokai would dream of allying with humans, so that is out."
Inuyasha would not have it. "No yokai would debase itself to fuck mortal women to knock them up multiple times."
"Not someone like Fan Tsenpo. He is a collector, you said," Kohaku looked to Kagome, who nodded. "He was probably collecting human's imbued with powers and using their offspring to create an army completely loyal to him and completely dispensable. No one would question such a powerful being, especially if he were discreet."
"A half-breed army. All just as powerful as you, Inuyasha, but with no remorse or compassion."
"Fuck."
"My people are trained especially for this. We outnumber them."
"There is no way you can know how many hanyos Fan could have...The man is centuries old, far older than even Sesshomaru. Who knows how long he's been creating his army."
"Do you think Shizuka knows?"
"Leave off it," warned Inuyasha. "I ain't letting you draw her back into this shit. She's already been through enough."
"She can help us. It is in her benefit as well to do so! You think Fan would care to spare her? Especially now that she has aligned herself to his enemy?"
He shook his head. "I said fucking no, dammit!"
Kagome sighed and looked pleadingly towards Shizuka. The woman seemed petrified once her name had been brought up. She may not be any help anyway. Kagome recalled that Shizuka had been accompanying the lady Tsering and could not know what Fan was about. But, her knowledge, even as limited as it may be, could be priceless in their effort.
"Please, Shizuka," Kagome implored. "Share with us what you know. Please help us to protect ourselves and our loved ones." She gestured to those in the room. "You may be the difference between life and death."
Inuyasha growled at Kagome's disobedience, but Shizuka pulled away from his grasp and sat straight. Her once cowering gaze was replaced by a look of resigned confidence. She had not even uttered a word, but her eyes spoke volumes of the depravity she'd witnessed in her life. Shikuza nodded and looked around the room, locking eyes with everyone for a second to instill her allegiance.
Kagome scooted towards Shizuka. "Is there anything you can tell us that may help?"
The woman brought her hands to her chest, crossing them, and nodded.
Sango realized that this would be easier "said" than done. She moved closer, as well. "Let's keep it to yes and no questions, so as not to overwhelm her."
"Will that be okay with you, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, looking up into his hardened eyes. He scoffed and threw his arms together petulantly. "Shizuka is...um...Fan Tsenpo creating an army?"
Shizuka nodded once in response.
"We should know how many bodies he has to call on," Kohaku urged. "Even an estimate would be better than our own misguided guess."
"Are there many?" Kagome asked.
Shizuka pondered for a moment and then nodded, gesturing to herself and taking a hand to slowly point with her palm open in a sweeping motion starting at her opposite shoulder until her hand was outstretched beside her.
Everyone followed the gesture with their eyes, and Kagome chewed on her lip in thought. "What does that mean?"
"A lot…" Sango said.
"The village, maybe?" Setsuna asked timidly. Kagome looked over at her daughter with a smile. So young, and bright, she thought. And innocent to the dark ways of the world, Kagome recalled.
Rin swallowed audibly. "Are you- are you saying there are as many as in the village? That's hundreds..."
Shizuka nodded and looked down in regret. She had no words to express her dismay nor the intricacies that needed to be shared.
Kohaku stood up, gently ensuring Rin was able to support herself. "There is much we need to know and likely not much time to find an answer. Those were not ordinary scouts. They were probes sent for testing our boundaries and finding our weakness. That does not happen unless the enemy is prepared to strike!"
"Calm the fuck down, kid," Inuyasha spat. "That dickhead I was chasing around was just being an arrogant little cock. He wasn't a damn probe. Just some little shit that's too big for his britches and trying to prove himself."
Kagome rolled her eyes in annoyance. "The fact that you, of all people, think that is astounding. You can't actually believe this was just some remarkable coincidence?"
A voice cut into their debate, startling them out of their anger. "Perhaps this one can shed light on the answer."