A/N: We've made some emotional progress! That's amazing! I wonder how long that's going to last...
The next week went by fast for Sari. She trained every day with her father to start processing and stabilizing her demonic side, and then even more with her mother to tame her miko powers. In such a short time, she was feeling more balanced than she had in all of her years. Training by herself had provided some relief, but there wasn't much challenge. Sparring with her father and occasionally her brother really put her to the test. She also found it satisfying in a way, and not just because she had bested Seiya twice. Being able to show her true strength to her father, not having to hide anymore, lifted an infinite amount of weight from her shoulders.
The difference in Sari's demeanor was as clear as night and day to Sesshoumaru. She was still graceful in her movements, clean and precise as usual, but even with his limit understanding of emotions he could see the passion in her eyes as she gained a mastery of herself. It was a phenomenal experience for all of his family. It almost made them forget about the looming threat of Naraku. Almost.
Sesshoumaru had sent out scouts to monitor their border. He knew it would not be long until another move was made. Naraku may even bring an army. But it did not concern him a bit. Naraku would be defeated, no matter what he tried. Sesshoumaru's family was strong, his allies were strong, and his will was strong. No insect demon, even one of Naraku's caliber, would conquer his lands.
Shaking his head in disapproval, Sesshoumaru watched Seiya, who was currently sparring with Sari, attempt to attack her from her right side, relying on her blind spot to be her weakness. Kagome gasped behind him, sitting at a small table filled with tea and snacks. The servants had brought it out for her to observe the sparring matches comfortably. She disapproved of his tactics as well, if not for the same reasons as her mate. Sesshoumaru was unphased and unsurprised as Sari countered him and put him on his back, pinning him as she held a dagger of demonic energy she had conjured to his throat. Sesshoumaru called the fight in Sari's favor, seeing her help Seiya up with a hand as her brother cursed to himself.
"You trained yourself to do all this? Seriously?" he asked, seeing her shake her head calmly, even as she looked at him curiously.
"I've always watched you and Papa fighting. I only copied Papa's move from a sparring match you had about a year ago. Do you not remember? You attempted to hit him from behind his Mokomoko," she added, seeing him put a hand to his chin in thought, trying to remember.
"Excellent memory, Sari. Seiya, you would do well to learn from Sari and remember past encounters. You never know when you might need to recall that information for the next battle," Sesshoumaru chided, seeing Seiya sigh.
"Yes Father, you're right," Seiya looked back to Sari with a grin. "That was still a really cool move. I'm impressed! But you won't beat me next time."
"Would you like me to hold back so that I don't make a liar of you?" Sari asked, hearing both of her parents chuckle as Seiya gave her a dry look.
"Har, har."
"Now, now, that's enough. Seiya, Sari, go clean up. Sari, we'll be going to into the village soon with Lady Ayame. I have some last minute errands to run and I'd like you to come with me," Kagome said with a smile, seeing Sari nod and bow before leaving them.
"Seiya, meet me in my study when you've refreshed yourself. Some of the scouts I sent to the border will be reporting in today. I want you there to hear it," Sesshoumaru said and Seiya's face focused.
"Yes, Father. Mother, you will be taking an escort with you to the village, won't you?" Seiya asked with a frown. Kagome smiled and nodded.
"I believe Yoru has volunteered to escort us ladies. The village is not far though, I believe we'd be perfectly safe. Naraku isn't likely to get past the border without someone noticing."
"Still, until we understand what he is planning, do not leave the castle unescorted, either of you," Sesshoumaru said, seeing his wife raise her eyebrow.
"I'm assuming that's a cautionary request and not an order so I don't have to be angry with you for trying to be my boss," Kagome said, seeing Sesshoumaru's blank stare. It was safer for them both for him not to comment.
The women and Yoru rode in a carriage down to the village. Normally Kagome and Sari would walk to and from, but with the amount of supplies Kagome was looking for, they thought it was best to bring one. Then they could enjoy themselves and walk back.
Sari sat next to Yoru, looking out the window to avoid his gaze... and their mothers, who kept looking between the two as they chatted. She'd been avoiding him since their kiss in the hall. To his credit, he hadn't gone out of his way to address her. It seemed he'd finally accepted that it was over. She hoped they could develop a friendship once their feelings settled, but maybe that was too much to ask for. Still, even though he was respecting her wishes, it stung a bit.
Yoru bided his time. He knew the best thing for her right now was to focus on herself, taming the immense power she wielded and mending the bruised bonds of her family. While Sari had been busy with her parents, he'd had plenty of time to talk with Seiya and make a plan. Despite what Sari might believe, he was far from giving her up, not when he knew she still loved him.
The carriage stopped and Yoru was the first to get out, assisting the women out as the gentleman he was. He could have lingered while holding Sari's hand, but didn't, noticing the flash of disappointment across her face before she carried on behind her mother.
"This is perfect! The village is always prepared with the most wonderful things! Sari, come look at this fabric! I think it would make a beautiful dress for the gala, don't you?" Sari saw the bright yellow fabric and cringed inwardly.
"... If you believe so, Mama," she said after a moment. Kagome laughed.
"You can say no, Sari. At least your eyes can," Ayame said and turned back to the fabric. "I think I'll take this fabric for myself. I had brought a kimono I was going to wear but this yellow is so pretty!"
"What about this one?" Yoru reached under a stack of cloths to unearth a bolt of cloth that made Ayame and Kagome both gasp in awe.
It was a boysenberry color, in between red and purple, accented with white plum blossoms on the print. It reminded Kagome much of Sesshoumaru's white robes but more feminine. The merchant nodded, gesturing to his wife and complimenting her for her fine work on the cloth as he pitched his sale.
"What do you think, Sari?" Kagome asked. Sari nodded wordlessly, still studying the bolt. "We'll take it, Sir," Kagome said, handing him the jade pieces for it, plus some extra as she liked to do for her people.
They continued shopping for a bit, choosing accent fabrics and several more for day to day wear since they were already in town. Yoru insisted they bring back the first round of their purchases to the carriage before going back into town to Kagome's favorite tea shop. They wanted a drink and a snack before picking up a few accessories to go with the fabrics they had decided on. Sari merely nodded along as Kagome and Ayame made suggestions and threw ideas around for the kind of jewelry and make up she would wear for the gala. All the talk of the gala make her more uncomfortable next to Yoru, though he seemed perfectly content as he sipped his tea.
A sudden scream from outside startled them all. They ran outside to investigate, seeing the villagers start to run past them and away. Sari's eyes sharpened as Kagome's widened, seeing what had to be hundreds, maybe thousands, of demons floating in a cloud of miasma in the sky, a familiar face in the center of them with a cocky smirk.
"Hello, my dear. So lovely to see you out on a day like today," Naraku said, seeing the defensive stances the four of them took on. "Come now, do you really believe the four of you can handle all of this?"
"It won't be just the four of us for long, and you know it!" Kagome yelled, thankful Sesshoumaru had made her bring her bow and arrows as she drew one back and aimed high.
"What are you here for?" Sari asked, stepping out from behind her mother and Ayame to face him.
"What the hell does it matter?" Ayame asked, growling as Naraku chuckled ominously.
"I like that you understand me, Lady Sari. It's refreshing for someone so young to be so wise beyond her years," Naraku chuckled.
"Why aren't any of them attacking?" Kagome asked quietly, eyeing the demons that threatened the village from above.
"I've brought along a grand procession for the mighty Princess Sari. I will be taking you back to my lands for personal reasons I care not to divulge in front of the masses."
Sari heard Ayame curse and Yoru growl as her mother loosed an arrow at a demon that struck down toward the earth. It was purified quickly.
"You may be able to stop a few, but how will you fair against hundreds of demons all by yourself? You're only one priestess, Lady Kagome," Naraku bit, seeing her target more as they began trickling down from the sky.
Sari saw Yoru and Ayame begin assaulting them, saving several of the villagers who had hid instead of running away. Her mother continued to barrage them with arrows as Naraku laughed and watched with amusement.
"Naraku!" she called, stepping in front of her mother and slashing a demon with her claws before it could hurt her. "Take me and leave our lands in peace!"
"Interesting," Naraku said, seeing Kagome jerk her daughter around and shake her.
"No! That is not how we handle things in this family! We will fight and we can win-"
"Mama, there's no way the four of us can protect the villagers from a swarm of demons. How many people have to die to justify a struggle that we cannot win on our own?" Sari looked in her mother's eyes, seeing her struggle to accept her words. "We lose this battle, retreat, and live to win the next. And if he needs me for something, he's not going to kill me. I'll be fine."
"That's crazy, Sari!" Ayame threw out her razor leaves at several demons, cutting them off from a woman and her child. They ran to safety as Yoru charged in and swiped his claws against them, killing them easily before turning to Naraku.
"Sari will not be your sacrifice, you parasite!" Yoru yelled.
"You're not going with-" Kagome's eyes widened as Sari pushed her mother back and out of the way of Naraku's insect leg, feeling Ayame catch her as it stabbed at the ground. In it's wake as it retracted was a necklace of dark pearls.
"I'll agree to your deal and leave this village in peace, but you must put on this necklace. It was imbued with the blood of 1000 monks and will suppress your power so that you cannot attack me once we are out of range of your family and friends."
Sari didn't hesitate, taking the necklace and putting it on before holding her arms out, waiting to be taken.
"Sari, no!" Yoru yelled, coming up and slashing at the insect leg that attempted to grab her. Another leg swooped from the air, slapping Yoru aside as a moth demon hoisted Sari up with his claws. It soared up into the miasma before anyone could protest or fight.
"That was much easier than expected. As I agreed, I will withdraw... for now," Naraku said with a chuckle, disappearing into the thick of the demon cloud before it dissipated.
Yoru stood up from being knocked back and finished off the stray demons that had been left behind, taking out his frustration on them in violent kicks and swipes of his claws. When they were all defeated, he threw his head back in a demonic roar of pain and anguish that he couldn't hold inside.
"Kagome, snap out of it!" Ayame yelled as Kagome stared at where her daughter had been in shock, her eyes wide and flooding with tears.
"What the hell happened here?" they heard a voice say as footsteps approached. "Seems like I missed all the action."
"Inu...yasha," Kagome buried her face in her hands in a sudden motion and wept, throwing off the hanyou.
"What did I say?!" he asked, moving to crouch in front of her.
"You didn't, Inuyasha," Ayame's eyes were full of fear and concern. "Yoru!" she snapped at her son, seeing him fisting his hands and growling as he too looked at where Sari had been. "Yoru, get Sesshoumaru and your father, now!"
"There's no need, we're here," Koga said as he appeared in a gust of wind. Seiya was right behind him, stopping to take in the state of the buildings around them in disarray from demons.
"What happened?" Seiya asked, seeing his father take over for Ayame and kneel to comfort Kagome, pulling her to his chest and soothing her with a low rumbling noise. "Where's Sari?" Yoru growled, his eyes tinting red as his inner demon threatened to reign over him and go fins their mate-to-be themself. He held it back, barely.
"Naraku came with an army to kidnap Sari. She bargained with him to take her and leave in peace. He accepted her plea and nabbed her before we could stop her," Ayame spoke, moving to Koga to comfort herself in his embrace.
"She did WHAT?" Seiya growled, his inner beast ready to avenge his sister, violently. And then he might throttle her for being so dumb!
"Kagome, we will get out daughter back, and Naraku will wish he had never attempted such foolishness," Sesshoumaru spoke quietly to her as she sobbed.
"Why the hysterics? It's a waste of time!" Inuyasha said, ignoring Sesshoumaru's growl. There was not much keeping Sesshoumaru in control at the idea of his pup being in the hands of the corrupt Lord of the Northern lands. His idiot half brother was treading on very thin ice.
"You're so insensitive!" Ayame yelled, seeing how her son glared furiously at Inuyasha but remained silent.
"Feh, who cares about that? The important thing is Sari is kidnapped and standing around here crying ain't gonna fix it! Let's go get her back!" Inuyasha said as he stood up.
"Let's go," Yoru declared.
"For once, I also agree with the lousy mutt, hard as that is to believe," Koga said, ignoring Inuyasha's growl. "Let's get the girl back!"
Kagome wiped her eyes and looked up at Inuyasha, standing up and sniffling as she gained her composure back, her mate at her side still comforting her even as she could feel the fury radiating off of him.
"He's right. There's no way I'm giving up my daughter without a fight. Let's get back to the castle and make a plan!"
Sari had passed out once more from the thick miasma on the way from her lands to Naraku's, waking up inside an unfamiliar room. As she sat up from the bed she looked around. There was a dark blue tufted chaise in the corner next to a barred window, a small table in the corner with a chair, and the bed she was sitting on. The room was otherwise barren, except for the large iron door with a small barred window for peeping that opened from the outside.
Standing up, Sari went to the door and tried to open it. As she assumed, it was locked. With a sigh, she stepped to the window and looked out, seeing a thick cloud of miasma surrounding what she could only assume was Naraku's castle. She couldn't see beyond it, only a cloudy view of what she guessed was the courtyard and garden, full of the remains of bushes and flowers that had wilted and died.
"Are you enjoying the view, pet?" Naraku's voice followed the sound of the door groaning open.
"What do you intend to do with me?" Sari asked, turning from the window to face him, her arms tucked together beneath the folds of her sleeves.
"You're not one to beat around the bush, are you?" Naraku chuckled, stepping closer to look down at her, reaching to finger the necklace that rendered her powerless. She didn't flinch, only looked up at him, waiting for the answer to her question. "You're awfully brave for someone with no way to defend themself from me," he said, releasing the necklace and stepping past her to the window, his hands clasping behind his back in a comfortable pose.
"Answer me."
"Impatient, I see. You are still young, I suppose. Very well. I have a proposal for you," Naraku started, turning back to look at her face. "I'm giving you two options. The first option is to become the Lady of the Northern lands. You're calm, sensible, and graceful, even for one so young. Our demonic strength combined with your miko abilities would bare me the most unstoppable offspring. You would of course live the rest of your days here in comfort so long as you did nothing to disgrace me," he added, seeing the cold, blank expression never leave her face.
"What is the other option?" Sari asked, seeing him smirk.
"I can merely absorb you into my collection and use you and your power at my will. You will become an extension of me, another limb, so to speak, with no free will and no power to escape my form. Your existence will be that of a puppet."
"Why are you giving me an option? It's illogical," she stated, hearing him chuckle before he stepped up and cupped her chin.
"Because you intrigue me and I find it entertaining, for now," he released her as her cold gaze narrowed to a glare, moving to the door.
"I wonder how many times you can take being rejected by a miko," Sari said, seeing him pause with his hand on the door handle. "From what I've heard about you in the past, the whole reason you exist this way is because you couldn't handle being rejected by Priestess Kikyo, many years ago. If I reject your offer, what demons will you sell this body to to assuage your hurt feelings-"
Sari grunted as she was grabbed by a black tentacle and slammed back into the wall, a crater forming from the force. She coughed blood and grunted, gritting her teeth as she looked up to see Naraku's face furrowed with anger. Tentacles wriggled from behind him, the miasma thickening in the room as he approached her.
"Did I... strike... a nerve?" she asked, choking on the tentacle that wrapped around her throat. It tightened for a moment, cutting her air off before Naraku's face shifted into a grin. She dropped roughly to the ground as he released her, regaining his humanoid form as he chuckled.
"You are indeed fascinating. I will return for my answer tomorrow night as the new moon rises. You will be mine or join my body. The choice remains yours," he said and left the room.
Sari remained on the floor for a moment trying to catch her breath through the dispersing miasma.
"Princess Sari, that was entirely too reckless! You shouldn't taunt your captor!" she hear voice say from her right.
"Myoga-san?" she coughed, moving to sit up, leaning against the side of the bed for a moment as the room spun still. "What are you doing here?" He hopped up onto the bed to stand next to her face.
"I was on my way to report to your father when I saw what happened in the village. I latched onto one of the demons as they retreated so I could follow you and report bad to Lord Sesshoumaru about your condition. I'm glad to see you're relatively unharmed," he breathed a sigh of relief.
"For now," she said, taking a chance and standing. Myoga hopped up onto her shoulder as she stepped to the window, hoping to breathe in some fresh air, or at least fresher than what was dissipating in the room. "Did you hear his offer?"
"I did, MiLady. Oh, what are we going to do? The new moon will render you powerless and he'll be able to remove this necklace to absorb you!" Myoga watched as she reached back and unclasped the necklace with ease. "But how?!"
"I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it's because of Mama's blood. When I put it on I realized it wouldn't work on me."
"But your aura is gone! How can this be?" he watched her put the necklace back on.
"I've suppressed my aura for years. Since training with Papa and Mama, I've learned to control it even more," Sari was forming a plan in her head even as she held her hand out for Myoga to jump on. Holding him to her face, she continued. "Tell Papa and Mama what Naraku said, and let them know I'm sorry for all of this," she said with a frown. Myoga gestured for her to come closer, reaching and patting her forehead with his tiny hand to comfort her.
"Your family loves you. You don't have to be sorry. You've been amazingly brave through-out today's events. It reminds me so much of your father, Princess Sari." She smiled gently at him as she pulled him back.
"You're very kind. Take a sip of my blood to give you energy for the road, and then hurry away," she offered, seeing him perk up.
"You're the kind one, My Lady!" Myoga said, his eyes tearing up just a bit before he latched onto her wrist. His drink was quick and he sighed in satisfaction before hopping to the window. "I'll relay the message and return soon!"
Sari moved to the chaise by the window, sitting and staring out into the foggy, death ridden yard. The plan forming in her head would only work if her family was there to help her. It was going to be tricky, she thought, but in the end they might be rid of the threat of Naraku once and for all. Or she would doom her family with her. It was one hell of a risk.
Kagome rode on the back of Ah-Un with Inuyasha as Seiya and Sesshoumaru flew beside them. Koga, Ayame, and Yoru ran below them in whirlwinds of amazing speed, all heading to the border between their lands and Naraku's. No one spoke, each in deep thought as they readied themselves for an intense battle. Yoru suddenly stopped, his family stopping with him. He lifted his head as he listened to a wolf's cry from a short distance, seeing his parents do the same.
"What is it?" Sesshoumaru asked, approaching the ground with Ah-Un behind him.
"The wolves, they've brought something from Sari," Koga said, seeing Sesshoumaru's brow furrow.
"What could that be?" Kagome asked seeing Inuyasha shrug as he jumped off of Ah-Un.
"Could it be a trap?" Seiya asked, seeing Yoru shake his head.
"I've never heard of Naraku communicating with anything other than bugs. Whatever it is, it's from her," he commented as a wolf approached, looking for head pats. Yoru gave them, kneeling before him. "What did you bring us?"
Inuyasha slapped his neck as he felt something bite him, hearing a cry of pain.
"I wish you were as kind and generous as Princess Sari!" Myoga cried, getting up and hopping up onto Sesshoumaru's shoulder. "Milord, I'm here to report on your daughter."
Myoga saw the group move to huddle around Sesshoumaru as he recounted how he came to be with Sari and the events that followed. He saw some relief but even more concern across their faces as he spoke of Naraku's plans.
"Sari will not be his mate," Yoru said darkly, seeing Myoga nod.
"I sense that will be her answer to him come tomorrow, but I don't expect him to take it well," Myoga crossed his arms, his jagged brow pointed at the ground. "Princess Sari is strong, mind, body, and spirit, but when Naraku decides to absorb her power for his own, she'll be unable to resist with the new moon upon us."
"So we'll rescue her first," Seiya said, his eyes determined as he looked to his family. "The new moon won't be an issue if we get to her before the sun sets."
"We'll have to be fast. Once Naraku knows we've come, he'll send swarms of demons after us to get in our way," Koga spoke. "If we can rush through as many as possible, we'll have a chance of reaching her before Naraku has a chance to stop us."
"Then what the hell are we waiting for?" Inuyasha yelled, hopping back onto Ah-Un, ignoring the way the dragon beast growled in protest at the sudden movement.
"Inuyasha, we'll have to be careful for as long as we can. Slow and steady infiltration until the last possible moment. I'm Naraku will be aware of us as soon as we cross into his lands so the longer we can sneak through before we have to fight our way in, the better. Sari will be at less risk for it," Ayame said, seeing Koga nod and look to Sesshoumaru.
"Agreed. Inuyasha, you will suppress your aura and remain calm until given the order to fight," Sesshoumaru saw him cross his arms and scoff.
"Whatever."
"Please, Inuyasha," Kagome asked, turning to him. "This is for Sari. For one day, put your issues aside, both of you," Kagome looked back at Sesshoumaru pointedly. "And let's get her safe and sound."
"I'm here, ain't I?" It was as close to an agreement as Inuyasha would make.
"Indeed," Sesshoumaru said.
"Myoga, can you go back and keep an eye on Sari?" Seiya asked, seeing him nod.
"Of course, Prince Seiya."
"We have a plan of what to do but how do we know where to go?" Kagome asked, looking to Sesshoumaru. "Tomorrow night is a very fast deadline to find a castle that no one has ever visited somewhere in the vastness of the Northern lands."
"I have a solution to that," Myoga said, smiling and lifting his face in pride at his cleverness. "I was given a generous gift of blood from Princess Sari. Instead of drinking, I used it to mark a trail along the trees to Naraku's castle. The miasma can make it difficult to navigate the dark woods of the north. Her blood should be a strong enough trail for the Wolf family to track without being too obvious for Naraku. It didn't seem to be overcome with demons either, so it should be a fairly straight shot to the edge of the palace borders."
"Good thinking!" Koga said, already seeing Yoru sniffing the air to get a head start tracking.
"If anything changes, find us immediately," Sesshoumaru ordered.
"Yes Sir, Lord Sesshoumaru. Luckily there are plenty of wolves roaming the Northern lands so Koko here won't look suspicious roaming the forest," Myoga jumped back onto Koko, the wolf that had remained at Yoru's side.
"Remain near the castle and listen to the flea, whatever he tells you to do," Koga ordered the wolf, hearing a short yip of acceptance before it ran off ahead of them.
"We have a plan and a way to execute it. Let's go," Seiya hopped into the sky, seeing Yoru nod as he caught track of the very faint scent of Sari's blood. A moment later and they were all crossing the border into the wastelands of the North.
A/N: Koko is my own character as well and obviously the most important one. Best Pup.