Sorry again for the wait, but I'm working on the sequel to my Spider-Man story.

Inuyasha scoffed: "Took you long enough."

I can easily call Kagome and ask her to say the "magic" word.

Inuyasha: "Okay, okay, sorry. gamePsycho11 doesn't own Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix, or Inuyasha."

Chapter 15: Land Through Time Part II:
Takemaru Rises

The mutated Heartless wandered, seemingly aimlessly as its master forced it...until it reached the giant skeleton of a dog, clad in samurai armor.

So'unga laughed, as it's Heartless puppet looked at a severed arm on the ground.

"With this, I can use the Dragon Twister," it said. "I shall destroy both the Tessaiga and the Tenseiga."

Meanwhile, with Sora and the others, Kagome had finally woken up. However, by the time she had finally come to, it was nightfall. Riku had just finished telling her where Inuyasha went.

"...He left on his own?" she asked, sadly.

"...I'm sorry, Kagome," Riku said.

"Hmph, who cares about that worthless fool?" The imp with the staff spat, only to receive a rock to his head, courtesy of Axel.

"The majority of us do, so shut it, imp!" The spiky redhead snarked.

"I can't believe Inuyasha went off on his own," Shippo said. "He's so selfish!"

"...Heh," Riku chuckled, humorlessly. "Been there, kid."

"We were a bit wrong about Sesshomaru," Kairi said. "He's not completely cold."

"Seemed pretty cold to me," Yuffie argued.

"But, he saved Rin from death, let her travel with him, and protected her," Aqua said, gesturing to the young girl.

"That's also something I've been wondering," Kairi said. "Inuyasha told me Sesshomaru hates humans with a passion."

"Maybe he adopted her?" Sora inquired.

"Lord Sesshomaru would never-" The imp started to rant, only for Axel to throw another rock at him.

"Quit being a wet blanket, imp!" he told him.

"...Lord Sesshomaru..." Rin whispered, sadly.

"Can someone tell us what Sesshomaru's problem is?" Terra asked.

"Unlike Master Toga, Sesshomaru doesn't fully understand or care about the meaning of compassion," Myoga explained. "The master knew that because of his half-human nature, Inuyasha had a better understanding of love. Which is why he left him the Tessaiga instead of Sesshomaru, which he was not happy about."

"Toga even put a barrier on the Tessaiga, so no pure demon can use it," Totosai explained further.

"Also, Sesshomaru blames Inuyasha for his father's death," Myoga said, sadly.

"Why would he blame Inuyasha for his father's death?" Sora asked.

"Lord Toga saved Master Inuyasha on the night of his birth, along with his mother, Lady Izayoi," Myoga said. "However, Sesshomaru wanted to surpass his father, but he died before he could."

"It sounds to me that Sesshomaru didn't even love his father," Riku stated. "He just saw him as a potential opponent."

"But he respected his strength, we know that for sure," Totosai said.

"I think Inuyasha's jealous of Sesshomaru for his strength, and that he knew their father," Kairi surmised. "And I think Sesshomaru's contempt is to hide that he's jealous of Inuyasha."

"Wow," Kagome mused. "And people say I'm perceptive."

"Man...Inuyasha must've had a pretty rough life, huh?" Sora asked.

"You don't know the half of it," Kagome said. "Inuyasha grew up, unable to trust anybody...and no one trusted him, either." She then sighed. "Not even Kikyo..."

"Who's Kikyo?" Aqua asked.

"...Inuyasha's former lover," Kagome replied. "She died, 50 years ago...but I don't wanna go into that."

"What about you guys?" Sango asked. "What's your story?"

"And those dark creatures, you called them 'Heartless'," Miroku added.

"I've never seen anything like them," Myoga said.

"They are easy to explain," Mickey said. "The Heartless are monsters created from the darkness in people's hearts."

"That's frightening," Sango muttered.

"Some look harmless," Kairi said. "But others are so powerful, they take on different forms."

"And there will definitely be more," Yuffie said.

"Now, what do we do about So'unga?" Riku asked.

Myoga hopped over to So'unga's sheath, "This is all your fault, Saya!"

"As I recall, you said you could seal So'unga for about seven hundred years," Totosai said.

"Lazy old spirit!" Donald added.

"What was So'unga doing in my family's shrine in the first place?" Kagome asked.

"Here we go," Myoga sighed. "It all started two hundred years ago, right after Master Toga died."

A brief flashback showed Myoga, Totosai, and Saya, sitting around So'unga. Myoga was crying his eyes out, mourning the death of his master.

"Now, stop crying, Myoga," Totosai said. "Tears will not bring the master back."

"I know, but I can't help myself," Myoga cried.

"By the way, did you dispose the Tessaiga according to his will?" Totosai asked.

"Of course I did," Myoga replied. "I placed it in the master's remains and hid the path within the black pearl."

"And what of Tenseiga?" Saya asked. "Did you leave it with Sesshomaru as the master asked?"

"I did, but I nailed it to Bokuseno so he could deliver it to him," Totosai answered.

"You didn't give it to him yourself?" Myoga questioned.

"If I lived that dangerously, I wouldn't have made it to this ripe old age," Totosai remarked.

"That still leaves So'unga," Myoga looked to the elderly spirit. "Saya, are you sure the master didn't leave any instructions on how we should dispatch So'unga?"

"No, only for Tessaiga and Tenseiga," Saya answered, sounding troubled.

The three elderly demons grumbled in thought, wondering what they should do.

"...I think I have an idea," Saya finally spoke out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The So'unga, along with the Tessaiga and Tenseiga were known as the three swords of supreme conquest," Myoga explained. "Together, they have the power to dominate the three worlds."

"Three worlds?" Kagome questioned.

"He means heaven, hell and Earth," Miroku chimed in, then began to write some symbols on the ground. "Earth is where we live. Heaven is where the Buddha and gods reside...and then there's hell, the land of the dead."

"We've been to a place that's like hell," Riku said.

"Yeah..." Aqua sighed.

"Each sword corresponds with one of the three worlds," Totosai explained. "The Tenseiga of heaven, can save a hundred lives. The So'unga of hell, can open a gateway to the netherworld and summon a hundred dead souls. The Tessaiga, the guardian of men, can fell a hundred enemies."

"And Inuyasha's father possessed all three," Kairi surmised.

"Who needs three swords?" Shippo asked.

"...*cough* Zoro," Axel coughed.

"Who?" Sora repeated.

"Don't worry about it," Axel muttered.

"So, what happened next?" Kagome asked.

"We couldn't figure out what to do with So'unga," Myoga said. "We were in a real predicament."

"Gawrsh," Goofy said. "Was it really that bad?"

"Master Toga was the only one who was able to withstand So'unga's will," Totosai answered.

"Sesshomaru was already angry over being left with Tenseiga, and Inuyasha was still just an infant," Myoga said.

"So, I said I could keep So'unga sealed away for seven hundred years, and told Totosai and Myoga to throw me down the Bone Eater's well," Saya continued.

"...So that's probably how So'unga ended up in Kagome's time period," Kairi surmised.

"I get it," Sora said. "Even though only two hundred years have passed here, over seven hundred has passed from her time."

"So by the time we found So'unga," Kagome began. "The seal Saya put on it had already weakened."

"That's not good then," Yuffie stated. "What are we gonna do?"

"Let's find Inuyasha, first," Riku suggested. "He's out there by himself and with the way he is right now, he might not even be thinking straight."

"Agreed, but we also need a way to destroy So'unga," Terra said. "Saya, is there any way?"

"Yes, just one," The old spirit answered. "With Tessaiga and Tenseiga, either one of them fighting against So'unga alone and it will only get stronger. But, if the two swords combine their attacks, it's possible that will destroy So'unga."

"That means Inuyasha and Sesshomaru will have to join forces," Kagome concluded.

"And since Inuyasha and Sesshomaru don't like each other," Sora began. "I'm guessing that's easier said than done, am I right?"

"Yep," Kagome said. "Still...impossible things have happened."

The imp actually started laughing and rolling on the ground,
"Lord Sesshomaru join forces with Inuyasha, are you crazy?! Hell will freeze over before that happens!"

Axel threw another rock at him,
"Shut up, imp! If it's the only way, it HAS to happen!"

"Stop calling me 'imp', my name is Jaken!"

"Whatever, imp," Axel just blew him off.

"Sorry, but I agree with him about Inuyasha and Sesshomaru," Shippo said.

"Same here," Miroku agreed.

"Well tough," Kairi barked. "If it's the only way to destroy So'unga, then those two brats are gonna have to get over their differences for a few minutes!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The mutated Heartless walked through a bamboo forest till it came to a grave mound.

It stuck So'unga in the mound,
"Awaken Takemaru of Setsuna, I am So'unga."

"Why do you call me from the dead?" Takemaru's voice asked.

"I wish to save your wondering soul," So'unga answered. "Take revenge with me. Vengeance on Sesshomaru and Inuyasha, the sons of the demon who killed you. Unleash your pent-up wrath. Remember the woman?"

"Izayoi…" Takemaru's voice muttered.

"You loved her and he stole her from you," So'unga told him. "Despise him, despise the woman, and despise his sons. I call upon you, let us take revenge together!"

A skeleton hand burst from the grave, along with the rest of the body, wearing samurai armor,
"I hate them. I despise Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, and I detest Izayoi."

Some pieces of dirt stuck to Takemaru's skeleton, reforming his flesh. He had this...bitter, deadly look in his eyes that said that he wanted to kill any living thing that crossed his path. Eventually, his flesh and hair had been fully restored. Long dark brown hair, and gray eyes.

He looked at the mutated Heartless, who held out Sesshomaru's left arm.

"Takemaru, use this," So'unga told him. "Sesshomaru's left arm. With it, you will be able to produce the Dragon Twister. You will be without rival; this will be a good opportunity to test your strength."

Takemaru stared down at Sesshomaru's severed arm in contemplation. Then he took it and put it against the stump that used to be his left arm. The arm connected, and a new arm formed around it.

He used his new hand to pick up So'unga, making glow reddish-pink. A horn grew from the right side of Takemaru's forehead, and some purple blew spots formed next to his right eye. His eyes turned yellow and red. Now...he looked more demonic than human. Even his armor had taken on a more demon-like appearance.

"The power of the supreme conqueror who knows no rival," Takemaru laughed.

It seemed that things were starting to take a very dark turn.

~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~

Takemaru travelled to a castle and easily laid waste to the soldiers returning there to celebrate their victory in battle.

Using the Dragon Twister, Takemaru slaughtered every single one of them.

~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~

Inuyasha had followed the trail of So'unga's demonic aura to the bamboo forest, and found a grave that had been dug up. However, the half-demon had no knowledge of the individual who'd been buried there.

'What was So'unga doing in a place like this?' he thought.

At that moment, Inuyasha sensed a presence...and Tessaiga began to rattle, causing him to put his hand on the hilt. As he turned around, he saw that it was indeed Sesshomaru, who quietly walked up to the grave. Inuyasha, ever wary, jumped away, poised to strike if necessary...but Sesshomaru didn't even seem to acknowledge him. He just stared at the grave.

"...Takemaru of Setsuna?" The pure-demon questioned. "The So'unga chose that vermin as its host?"

"You know about him?" Inuyasha asked, glaring at his brother, who glared back. "What are you doing here? This is a human burial site." He drew Tessaiga. "What's your connection to him?"

"I have no connection with that pest," Sesshomaru answered. "If anyone has a connection to him, it is you."

"T-to me?" Inuyasha questioned.

Sesshomaru drew his Tokijin, "You probably aren't aware. You were born ignorant, and you live as an ignorant half-demon."

Inuyasha growled at that.

"You may as well die ignorant, too." And with that, the brothers clashed! Sesshomaru slashed at Inuyasha, but he jumped out of the way.

"Give me Tessaiga and die!" The older demon exclaimed.

Inuyasha jumped out of the way of Sesshomaru's swing, once again, landing on the ground and sliding back momentarily.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten!" he shouted as he charged at Sesshomaru, who blocked his sword with Tokijin. "Tessaiga's barrier rejects you! You can't even pick it up!"

"That may be a fact," Sesshomaru began. "But at least I'll have time to kill that cretin."

"I'll be the one to destroy the old man's sword, you stay out of this!" Inuyasha shot back.

"You don't even know what father looked like," Sesshomaru countered. "Spare me the pompous heroics."

He then pushed Inuyasha away. As the brothers continued their duel, the bamboo around them continuously got cut down, leaving more room for them to fight.

"You may have inherited Father's sword," Sesshomaru began. "But you're just a half-demon! What can you possibly accomplish?!"

Inuyasha growled. He was tired of Sesshomaru's constant snubbing of him. Ever since the day he met his older half-brother, all he had ever done was ridicule him just for existing. Normally, it didn't bother him when somebody else said it, and yet, to hear it from his brother only fueled his anger.

But he refused to ever let Sesshomaru see that he got to him.

"Hmph, sorry I'm just a half-demon," Inuyasha said. "But considering I've beaten you over and over again, that makes you nothing but a pathetic dog!"

The wind swirled around, then he launched his Wind Scar attack at Sesshomaru! However, the dog-demon merely stood there, glaring at his brother...before he held up Tokijin.

"Behold," he said...as a powerful aura appeared around him. "DRAGON STRIKE!"

Blue lightning erupted around him, cancelling out the Wind Scar and heading toward Inuyasha!

However...

"I was expecting something like that! BACKLASH WAVE!"

A powerful whirlwind came from Inuyasha's sword, clashing with Sesshomaru's attack. The wind and force from their clashing attacks effected the forest around them! Sesshomaru thought of the last thing his father had asked him...

"Why do you seek power, my son?" Toga had asked him.

'Father, I wished to defeat you, the Demon with Supreme Power,' Sesshomaru thought. 'But you died for the sake of a mortal woman, and Inuyasha no less. You were the one with ultimate power, the one I was destined to defeat. Inuyasha, you and your mother caused his miserable death!'

Suddenly...the Dragon Strike pushed through Inuyasha's Backlash Wave!

"What?!" Inuyasha questioned. "What happened to my Backlash Wave?!"

Before he knew it, he was sent flying from the attack!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGH!" he screamed as he was propelled through the air.

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru stood behind, holding his smoking blade.

"...That was the best I could expect from Tokijin," he said as he swung his sword, causing the smoke to dissipate before he put it back in his sash. "Once again, I failed to kill him."

On that, he turned and walked away.

Inuyasha laid on the ground, Tessaiga's sheath laying on his chest.
"My sheath, did it protect me?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The off-worlders and Kagome's group were now flying through the sky, in search of their half-demon friend and So'unga.

"Why is Inuyasha so obsessed with his father's sword, if he didn't even know what he looked like?" Kagome asked. "Why does he always try to do everything on his own?"

"Well, I can sympathize," Miroku replied. "That's just how men think."

"No matter how strong you are, you can never solve everything on your own," Sora countered. "You can't attempt to shoulder everything and be the only sacrifice. It still affects the people you care about, right Riku?"

"Yeah," The silver-haired teen muttered.

"Oh, Riku," Kairi said as she put her hand on his shoulder, causing him to smile at his childhood friend.

"Still, it's natural that a boy's father is at the forefront of his mind," Miroku continued. "It's hard to explain, but it can be very obsessive. You think you can at least do what your father can, and you hope one day to surpass him. For boys, their father is their most influential role model."

"That's difficult," Shippo said. "It'd be tough on a guy if his father was great."

"Excuse me," Sango growled...as Miroku groped her butt. "Keep your hands to yourself, please!"

"Actually, I picked up this habit from my Father," said Miroku. "One day, I hope to overcome it."

SMACK!

"Overcome that, you pervert!" Sango snapped while Miroku had a black eye.

"...A boy's father is at the forefront of his mind, huh?" Sora muttered.

"What's wrong, Sora?" Donald asked.

"...I barely remember my Dad," Sora said. "My Mom said he died when I was still pretty young. I can't even remember what he looked like."

Kairi hugged him from behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene Change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was now sunset and Inuyasha kept trekking on, determined to destroy So'unga.

Still, his thoughts drifted to what his brother had said to him,
'I don't know what father looked like, huh? *sigh* You're lucky Sesshomaru, you got to know him before he died. You even spoke with him.'

Later that night, at the castle that Takemaru had taken over...things were taking a very dark turn. He raised So'unga into the air and pointed it at the full moon,
"Fallen soldiers, come and heed me now! Hear my command and rise from the dead!"

Blood began to ooze from the blade. It seeped off the castle and all around the ground, cascading in waterfalls of crimson. Then, the ground shook as the soldiers that Takemaru had slain rose from the ground...only now, they were zombies!

Giant red spikes burst from the ground around the castle!

"Now I am ready for you," Takemaru said. "Come for me, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha!"

And it just so happened that the two brothers were on their way to the castle, on opposite ends of the land.

I hope you all don't mind the Jaken-bashing. But he kinda deserved it. XD

Read and review, please!