(Inuyasha and Co do not belong to me. I just like to write about them. Oiii, this just keeps going and going and going! Gomen nasai if this is too long but argh! I can't stop! Eeep! The conclusion will be coming up soon enough I hope but until then please be patient with your author!
This chapter is mainly about - well read the title! More evil afoot!!)
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Twenty-Six
The Three Spheres of Onigumo
A soft wind blew through the remnants of Onigumo's hair as he held out his hands. In one was a Shikon shard. Kanna'na was before him, his eyes shut so as not to offend his master, the nearly complete Shikon no Tama floating above his head.
"It is time, Kanna'na.." Onigumo said softly.
"Hai, Onigumo-sama.." The youkai bowed and then spread his hands outward. In one hand was the Shikon shard embedded within his palm, and in the other was Miroku's staff with the Shikon shard Kanna'na placed his hands together and the two shards merged into one when Kanna'na opened his palms once more. Miroku's staff had disappeared.
The shard that was in Onigumo's hand floated up from the charred flesh and went towards the Shikon piece that still floated in front of Kanna'na. Fusing together, Onigumo could hear the terrified screams inside..
*****
The shard started to shake as Miroku and Sango held on to one another to keep from falling.
"Houshi! W - what's happening?" Sango's eyes were wide.
"I - don't know.." Miroku grimaced. Whatever it was, it did not bode well. Suddenly their ears were filled with a roaring sound and Miroku and Sango covered their ears in pain. Just as quickly as it came, the sound faded and Miroku and Sango looked about. It seemed that the interior of the shard was somewhat larger. It was hard to tell, but they could somehow sense it.
"The shard has fused with another piece!" Sango placed her hands upon the 'wall' of the shard.
"Hai.." Miroku nodded and then he saw his staff! Quickly he grabbed it, relieved that it had not been destroyed. Sango was relieved to see that Miroku had his own weapon back. She had just recently found her weapon within the shard and knew just how he felt.
Then they heard the roaring sound once more..
"Cover your ears, Sango!" Miroku yelled as the two crouched down. However they were not prepared for what came next..
"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!"
"Eeeeeyyyiiii!"
"Owwww!!"
A tumble of bodies fell on Miroku and Sango, knocking them both down as the roaring ceased once more.
"Uhhhh.."
"This is no way to treat a senior citizen..ow.."
"Sota, Grandpa, are you all right?"
"Miroku get your hand off my - !"
"Gomen, young lady, I did not - "
"Ah..! Dirty old man!!"
THWACK!!
Within moments everyone disengaged themselves, and Miroku and Sango saw just who their new guests were, although they did not look familar. The woman however, looked a bit like Kagome, and Miroku decided to take a chance.
"Excuse me, honorable lady, but are you - related to Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked politely.
The woman looked flustered but considering the circumstances that she found herself in, she was quite calm.
"I am her mother, Hirugashi Yuuko.. She brought the wide eyed boy next to her. "This is Sota and - "
"I am Kagome's grandfather!" The old man rubbed his head and scowled ever so slightly at Sango. "And I'm not into young girls!"
Sango flushed. She supposed it was out of habit with Miroku, but dammit, he DID have his hand on her rear end!
"Where - where are we now? Is Kagome here?" Sota asked, looking around.
"No, she is not. We're within the shards of the Shikon.." Miroku said.
"Feh!" Kagome's grandfather spat. "I think I know how to get out of this thing! He managed to rumage through the scrolls that he still had. "Ah ha!" He found a few that suited his fancy and started to persuse them with a fevor. Kagome's mother shook her head.
"We are all in great danger here, honorable Higurashi-sama.." Miroku said. It will be best if you all stay behind me."
Sango crossed her arms. "Ahem.."
"Oh, Sango..." Miroku smiled.
"I AM a capable youkai exterminator.."
"Gomen, Sango, but you bring out my protective side.." Miroku put his arm around.
"And your hentai side." Sango disengaged herself from Miroku and grasped her weapon, the Hiraikotsu.
"Kukuku.." A voice said. "What do we have here?"
"Naraku!" Miroku spun around and snarled. Naraku was there but this time he did not have on his baboon pelt. Instead he was in the guise of the handsome prince whose body he had taken a long time ago.
Naraku smiled as he flexed his hand. "You are correct, priest. The shards have been fused and I can feel the rest of the Shikon no Tama close..soon it will be one and I, Naraku will destroy Onigumo once and for all. But first - " He smiled sadistically at the group.
"You can't harm us here, Naraku!" Sango said hotly.
"Oh, but you see.." Naraku's eyes flashed coldly at the youkai exterminator. "Since the shards have fused, I have grown much stronger and you - well, you are all still the same." He looked at the newcomers and assessed them. They would be interesting to play with, he supposed. The woman and the boy - they looked familar to him, something in their faces, ah yes.."
"Kukuku.." Naraku smirked. "The miko-incarnate's family I presume?" Naraku made a mock bow to Mrs. Higurashi. Naraku was gratified to see her shiver and draw the boy closer to her. The old man was holding up some silly scroll and chanting loudly. Naraku held up his hand and easily knocked him over, setting fire to the scoll he held.
"Ahhh! My sacred scoll!"
"Leave them alone, Naraku! Your fight is with me!" Miroku held out his staff as he raced towards Naraku. Naraku laughed.
"Stupid priest! You will long for the day when you only had to worry over your Air Rip devouring you!"
The Higurashi family and Sango watched in horror as Naraku and Miroku prepared to fight. Miroku was instantly knocked over as Naraku created a wind within the shard and everyone screamed as they were tossed about.
And then the deafening noise came again, causing the humans to shriek in pain. Naraku seemed unaffected but he raised his head and smiled as he felt new energy flow within him.
Soon Naraku would be complete and then Onigumo would perish for his foolishness in keeping Naraku bound into the Shikon no Tama!
****
Rin was asleep, curled up in a ball as Jaken watched over her with a scowl. It was a task he did not wish to do, but Sesshoumaru-sama had ordered him to watch over the child this night, and out of long habit, Jaken did so.
The fused shards gleamed in the pouch that the youkai had carried with him at all times and it was the only thing that seemed to give Jaken comfort - the knowledge that soon enough the brat would be gone along with that hanyou-woman, Kagome. He sat upon a small bench and sighed occassionally, not really looking upon the sleeping human, for fear that he would vent his rage upon her and kill her too soon. Even just looking upon her, made something ugly grow inside him.
Suddenly Jaken was compelled to pull the pouch out of it's hiding place. Grasping it in his hand, he stared at it for a second as if he were mesmerized. The fused Shikon shards glowed through the bag, but Jaken did not pull them out. Even in his present state, he knew that the hanyou-woman would sense them.
His eyes felt heavy - so heavy that Jaken had to shut them. What was wrong with him? He did not tire or need sleep like a human did. Still, his rationalization did not help the feeling of overwhelming tiredness that consumed him.
Jaken fell into an unatural sleep as a soft chuckle filled the room ..
****
Onigumo watched as the Shikon and the shards fused together as it rested just above his outstretched hand. Kanna'na stood still as the Shikon glowed and sucked the youkai into it, leaving Onigumo alone with the Shikon no Tama. He stared at it as he licked his dry lips. Such power! He could feel the multiplied power within the jewel - all those youkai souls from long ago and the ones that Kanna'na had gathered, not to mention the powers that Naraku posessed.
Naraku..Onigumo frowned. He had to separate his prizes for he knew Naraku would waste no time in trying to unsurp him once more. Concentrating upon the Shikon no Tama, Onigumo watched as three spheres came out of the nearly completed Shikon and floated above it's parent. The three spheres were a translucent black, simply perfect for what he wished them for.
And now to fill them.
"Come out, come out.." Onigumo sang out to the spheres, as a glow emited from the Shikon no Tama..
****
Inside the Shikon no Tama, it was evident that Naraku was playing with Miroku. When the final fusing had occoured, Naraku had unleashed his fury upon the unfortunate humans. Add to that the souls of the trapped youkai were everywhere did not help the situation at all. The Higurashi family was suspended in mid-air, terrified as the youkai souls whipped around them, their innate lust for human flesh and souls unhindered by their lack of bodies.
Miroku could not use his Air Rip because of Naraku's bees - which now that Naraku had reached near completion, were harmful to the priest. Sango was doing her best to get at Naraku, but was kept at bay by an image of Kohaku, who blocked the Hiraikotsu with inhuman speed and agility.
It looked like a hopeless battle..
Naraku smiled at Miroku. "I give you one chance, priest. Ally yourself with me, get me out of this Shikon and I will rid the Air Void from your hand."
"You mean the great Naraku cannot get out of the Shikon no Tama?" Miroku taunted, unmindful that Naraku could and would take his life.
Naraku's face darkened. "You've sealed your fate, priest - along with the family of the miko." He smirked evily. "I will personally tell her that it was you who killed off her family.."
"You BASTARD!" Miroku charged at Naraku once more, ignoring Sango's cries. Naraku smiled, and prepared to rip the Air Void in Miroku's hand to where it would at last suck the monk into it.
But then Naraku felt something pull at him - in fact everyone except for the youkai souls trapped within the Shikon could feel the pull. Naraku's eyes widened in shock!
"No! Damn you Onigumo bastard!!" Naraku shrieked. "You cannot do this to ME! I am Naraku! You are nothing but a human weakling!"
Miroku and the others watched as Naraku snarled and tried to grab at anything as he was being sucked out of the Shikon. As he went upwards, he snagged onto Sota's leg. The boy shrieked in horror.
"Let - go! Leggo!!!" Sota howled, trying to disengage Naraku.
"Hiraikotsu!!!" Sango's weapon hit where Naraku was gripping the boy's leg and he let go, snarling at Sango as he did so. But Naraku's anger was useless as he was sucked out of the Shikon no Tama. There was silence for a moment and then the Higurashi's shrieked as they plummeted down from where they were trapped. Everything that had been associated with Naraku's attack - the bees, the wind, Kohaku, were gone.
Although Naraku was gone, Miroku had the feeling things weren't over yet, for they could all feel the pulling within them.
"What - what's happening?" Sota clung to his mother.
"I don't know Sota, just hang onto me." Mrs. Higurashi's eyes were wide with fear but they were determined, just like Kagome's.
"Higuarashi-sama.." Miroku said quickly. "Come, all of you stay very close! Sango, you too!" He pulled his arm around Sango and they huddled together as the pull increased. They felt a stretching and they all feared for their lives as they clung to each other.
And then they screamed as they were pulled from the Shikon no Tama, leaving onlythe wandering youkai souls to remain..
*****
Onigumo looked at the spheres in satisfaction. He could see Naraku raging inside one of them, his eyes wishing Onigumo dead as Onigumo watched him amused.
"You don't like this do you, Naraku?" Onigumo chided. "A weak human heart has defeated you and stolen your powers, eh? Oh no.." Onigumo clucked. "Kukuku, what shall we do with you?" He turned to where the other sphere floated, alongside the one that imprisoned Naraku's. There, in a heap were Kagome's friends and her family. It always paid to have insurance, and that's what they were - insurance to keep the miko's rain of arrows away from him.
He would have her one way or the other.
Onigumo gazed at the third sphere, which was now empty. He had planned on killing the child but on second thought, she would be more valuable alive. Of course he would have Jaken believe that he killed the chit, for his own purposes. Speaking of, it was time to collect the last remaining shards of the Shikon and gather the youkai-lord's little human child..
"Go." He said to the third sphere. "Collect the child and summon my servant, Jaken.."
Onigumo smiled and then he started to laugh. Servant - it had such a nice ring to it..
This chapter is mainly about - well read the title! More evil afoot!!)
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Twenty-Six
The Three Spheres of Onigumo
A soft wind blew through the remnants of Onigumo's hair as he held out his hands. In one was a Shikon shard. Kanna'na was before him, his eyes shut so as not to offend his master, the nearly complete Shikon no Tama floating above his head.
"It is time, Kanna'na.." Onigumo said softly.
"Hai, Onigumo-sama.." The youkai bowed and then spread his hands outward. In one hand was the Shikon shard embedded within his palm, and in the other was Miroku's staff with the Shikon shard Kanna'na placed his hands together and the two shards merged into one when Kanna'na opened his palms once more. Miroku's staff had disappeared.
The shard that was in Onigumo's hand floated up from the charred flesh and went towards the Shikon piece that still floated in front of Kanna'na. Fusing together, Onigumo could hear the terrified screams inside..
*****
The shard started to shake as Miroku and Sango held on to one another to keep from falling.
"Houshi! W - what's happening?" Sango's eyes were wide.
"I - don't know.." Miroku grimaced. Whatever it was, it did not bode well. Suddenly their ears were filled with a roaring sound and Miroku and Sango covered their ears in pain. Just as quickly as it came, the sound faded and Miroku and Sango looked about. It seemed that the interior of the shard was somewhat larger. It was hard to tell, but they could somehow sense it.
"The shard has fused with another piece!" Sango placed her hands upon the 'wall' of the shard.
"Hai.." Miroku nodded and then he saw his staff! Quickly he grabbed it, relieved that it had not been destroyed. Sango was relieved to see that Miroku had his own weapon back. She had just recently found her weapon within the shard and knew just how he felt.
Then they heard the roaring sound once more..
"Cover your ears, Sango!" Miroku yelled as the two crouched down. However they were not prepared for what came next..
"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!"
"Eeeeeyyyiiii!"
"Owwww!!"
A tumble of bodies fell on Miroku and Sango, knocking them both down as the roaring ceased once more.
"Uhhhh.."
"This is no way to treat a senior citizen..ow.."
"Sota, Grandpa, are you all right?"
"Miroku get your hand off my - !"
"Gomen, young lady, I did not - "
"Ah..! Dirty old man!!"
THWACK!!
Within moments everyone disengaged themselves, and Miroku and Sango saw just who their new guests were, although they did not look familar. The woman however, looked a bit like Kagome, and Miroku decided to take a chance.
"Excuse me, honorable lady, but are you - related to Kagome-sama?" Miroku asked politely.
The woman looked flustered but considering the circumstances that she found herself in, she was quite calm.
"I am her mother, Hirugashi Yuuko.. She brought the wide eyed boy next to her. "This is Sota and - "
"I am Kagome's grandfather!" The old man rubbed his head and scowled ever so slightly at Sango. "And I'm not into young girls!"
Sango flushed. She supposed it was out of habit with Miroku, but dammit, he DID have his hand on her rear end!
"Where - where are we now? Is Kagome here?" Sota asked, looking around.
"No, she is not. We're within the shards of the Shikon.." Miroku said.
"Feh!" Kagome's grandfather spat. "I think I know how to get out of this thing! He managed to rumage through the scrolls that he still had. "Ah ha!" He found a few that suited his fancy and started to persuse them with a fevor. Kagome's mother shook her head.
"We are all in great danger here, honorable Higurashi-sama.." Miroku said. It will be best if you all stay behind me."
Sango crossed her arms. "Ahem.."
"Oh, Sango..." Miroku smiled.
"I AM a capable youkai exterminator.."
"Gomen, Sango, but you bring out my protective side.." Miroku put his arm around.
"And your hentai side." Sango disengaged herself from Miroku and grasped her weapon, the Hiraikotsu.
"Kukuku.." A voice said. "What do we have here?"
"Naraku!" Miroku spun around and snarled. Naraku was there but this time he did not have on his baboon pelt. Instead he was in the guise of the handsome prince whose body he had taken a long time ago.
Naraku smiled as he flexed his hand. "You are correct, priest. The shards have been fused and I can feel the rest of the Shikon no Tama close..soon it will be one and I, Naraku will destroy Onigumo once and for all. But first - " He smiled sadistically at the group.
"You can't harm us here, Naraku!" Sango said hotly.
"Oh, but you see.." Naraku's eyes flashed coldly at the youkai exterminator. "Since the shards have fused, I have grown much stronger and you - well, you are all still the same." He looked at the newcomers and assessed them. They would be interesting to play with, he supposed. The woman and the boy - they looked familar to him, something in their faces, ah yes.."
"Kukuku.." Naraku smirked. "The miko-incarnate's family I presume?" Naraku made a mock bow to Mrs. Higurashi. Naraku was gratified to see her shiver and draw the boy closer to her. The old man was holding up some silly scroll and chanting loudly. Naraku held up his hand and easily knocked him over, setting fire to the scoll he held.
"Ahhh! My sacred scoll!"
"Leave them alone, Naraku! Your fight is with me!" Miroku held out his staff as he raced towards Naraku. Naraku laughed.
"Stupid priest! You will long for the day when you only had to worry over your Air Rip devouring you!"
The Higurashi family and Sango watched in horror as Naraku and Miroku prepared to fight. Miroku was instantly knocked over as Naraku created a wind within the shard and everyone screamed as they were tossed about.
And then the deafening noise came again, causing the humans to shriek in pain. Naraku seemed unaffected but he raised his head and smiled as he felt new energy flow within him.
Soon Naraku would be complete and then Onigumo would perish for his foolishness in keeping Naraku bound into the Shikon no Tama!
****
Rin was asleep, curled up in a ball as Jaken watched over her with a scowl. It was a task he did not wish to do, but Sesshoumaru-sama had ordered him to watch over the child this night, and out of long habit, Jaken did so.
The fused shards gleamed in the pouch that the youkai had carried with him at all times and it was the only thing that seemed to give Jaken comfort - the knowledge that soon enough the brat would be gone along with that hanyou-woman, Kagome. He sat upon a small bench and sighed occassionally, not really looking upon the sleeping human, for fear that he would vent his rage upon her and kill her too soon. Even just looking upon her, made something ugly grow inside him.
Suddenly Jaken was compelled to pull the pouch out of it's hiding place. Grasping it in his hand, he stared at it for a second as if he were mesmerized. The fused Shikon shards glowed through the bag, but Jaken did not pull them out. Even in his present state, he knew that the hanyou-woman would sense them.
His eyes felt heavy - so heavy that Jaken had to shut them. What was wrong with him? He did not tire or need sleep like a human did. Still, his rationalization did not help the feeling of overwhelming tiredness that consumed him.
Jaken fell into an unatural sleep as a soft chuckle filled the room ..
****
Onigumo watched as the Shikon and the shards fused together as it rested just above his outstretched hand. Kanna'na stood still as the Shikon glowed and sucked the youkai into it, leaving Onigumo alone with the Shikon no Tama. He stared at it as he licked his dry lips. Such power! He could feel the multiplied power within the jewel - all those youkai souls from long ago and the ones that Kanna'na had gathered, not to mention the powers that Naraku posessed.
Naraku..Onigumo frowned. He had to separate his prizes for he knew Naraku would waste no time in trying to unsurp him once more. Concentrating upon the Shikon no Tama, Onigumo watched as three spheres came out of the nearly completed Shikon and floated above it's parent. The three spheres were a translucent black, simply perfect for what he wished them for.
And now to fill them.
"Come out, come out.." Onigumo sang out to the spheres, as a glow emited from the Shikon no Tama..
****
Inside the Shikon no Tama, it was evident that Naraku was playing with Miroku. When the final fusing had occoured, Naraku had unleashed his fury upon the unfortunate humans. Add to that the souls of the trapped youkai were everywhere did not help the situation at all. The Higurashi family was suspended in mid-air, terrified as the youkai souls whipped around them, their innate lust for human flesh and souls unhindered by their lack of bodies.
Miroku could not use his Air Rip because of Naraku's bees - which now that Naraku had reached near completion, were harmful to the priest. Sango was doing her best to get at Naraku, but was kept at bay by an image of Kohaku, who blocked the Hiraikotsu with inhuman speed and agility.
It looked like a hopeless battle..
Naraku smiled at Miroku. "I give you one chance, priest. Ally yourself with me, get me out of this Shikon and I will rid the Air Void from your hand."
"You mean the great Naraku cannot get out of the Shikon no Tama?" Miroku taunted, unmindful that Naraku could and would take his life.
Naraku's face darkened. "You've sealed your fate, priest - along with the family of the miko." He smirked evily. "I will personally tell her that it was you who killed off her family.."
"You BASTARD!" Miroku charged at Naraku once more, ignoring Sango's cries. Naraku smiled, and prepared to rip the Air Void in Miroku's hand to where it would at last suck the monk into it.
But then Naraku felt something pull at him - in fact everyone except for the youkai souls trapped within the Shikon could feel the pull. Naraku's eyes widened in shock!
"No! Damn you Onigumo bastard!!" Naraku shrieked. "You cannot do this to ME! I am Naraku! You are nothing but a human weakling!"
Miroku and the others watched as Naraku snarled and tried to grab at anything as he was being sucked out of the Shikon. As he went upwards, he snagged onto Sota's leg. The boy shrieked in horror.
"Let - go! Leggo!!!" Sota howled, trying to disengage Naraku.
"Hiraikotsu!!!" Sango's weapon hit where Naraku was gripping the boy's leg and he let go, snarling at Sango as he did so. But Naraku's anger was useless as he was sucked out of the Shikon no Tama. There was silence for a moment and then the Higurashi's shrieked as they plummeted down from where they were trapped. Everything that had been associated with Naraku's attack - the bees, the wind, Kohaku, were gone.
Although Naraku was gone, Miroku had the feeling things weren't over yet, for they could all feel the pulling within them.
"What - what's happening?" Sota clung to his mother.
"I don't know Sota, just hang onto me." Mrs. Higurashi's eyes were wide with fear but they were determined, just like Kagome's.
"Higuarashi-sama.." Miroku said quickly. "Come, all of you stay very close! Sango, you too!" He pulled his arm around Sango and they huddled together as the pull increased. They felt a stretching and they all feared for their lives as they clung to each other.
And then they screamed as they were pulled from the Shikon no Tama, leaving onlythe wandering youkai souls to remain..
*****
Onigumo looked at the spheres in satisfaction. He could see Naraku raging inside one of them, his eyes wishing Onigumo dead as Onigumo watched him amused.
"You don't like this do you, Naraku?" Onigumo chided. "A weak human heart has defeated you and stolen your powers, eh? Oh no.." Onigumo clucked. "Kukuku, what shall we do with you?" He turned to where the other sphere floated, alongside the one that imprisoned Naraku's. There, in a heap were Kagome's friends and her family. It always paid to have insurance, and that's what they were - insurance to keep the miko's rain of arrows away from him.
He would have her one way or the other.
Onigumo gazed at the third sphere, which was now empty. He had planned on killing the child but on second thought, she would be more valuable alive. Of course he would have Jaken believe that he killed the chit, for his own purposes. Speaking of, it was time to collect the last remaining shards of the Shikon and gather the youkai-lord's little human child..
"Go." He said to the third sphere. "Collect the child and summon my servant, Jaken.."
Onigumo smiled and then he started to laugh. Servant - it had such a nice ring to it..
