(Inuyasha and Co do not belong to me. I just like to write about them. Yay! I've finally reached the battle! Woohoo! Wonder how it will end? We'll see!!)
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Twenty-Seven
The Battle Begins
Sesshoumaru held Kagome against his body as they dozed, nuzzling against the warmth of her neck. His tail was wrapped against Kagome's backside as they clung to one another.
An unatural miasma filled the room, unseen and undetected by the sleeping couple. It rendered them asleep where otherwise they would have been aware of the nocturnal activities going on just beyond Sesshoumaru's chambers.
The demon-lord stirred but a little, only aware of Kagome's scent wrapped around him as his woman cuddled her soft body against his own.
****
Myoga peeked out from the covers of Shippo's blanket and frowned, sniffing the air. Something was wrong - very wrong. An air of darkness seemed to cover everything and Myoga knew it had to be something of great evil.
"Shippo!" Myoga hopped on the sleeping kitsume. "Wake up!"
The little kitsume answered the flea with a resounding snore and nearly blew Myoga away.
"A sleep spell.." Myoga frowned. "Yes, something is going on. I must go tell Sesshoumaru-sama and Kagome!" The flea hopped down and headed for Sesshoumaru's room quickly as he could.
****
The small black sphere paused over the small human girl, casting it's dark glow upon her.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" The little girl mumbled as she was lifted up into the air, her blankets falling to the floor below. As Rin floated in the air, deeply asleep, Jaken's eyes opened, but they were blank and unseeing, as if they were in a trance. He got up and took a sharp knife that he had always carried upon him - a gift from Sesshoumaru's father long ago - and advanced on the child. With a practiced ease, he placed the knife on Rin's neck but instead of slashing her throat, he simply slashed a shallow wound on her forearm. Rin winced but did not awake as the blood welled freely down her arm. Jaken then cut a piece of Rin's kimono off and placed it on the wound, soaking up a good amount of her blood. He backed away, his eyes still blank, and waited.
Rin, still poised in mid-air, was drawn closer and closer to the darkened sphere, a soft glow around her. As she was sucked up into the sphere, she woke up.
"SESSHOUMARU-SAAAMAAAAA!!"
Rin was sucked into the sphere and as the sphere left the room, Jaken prepared to follow it, his eyes still blank and his hand still holding the bloodied scrap of Rin's kimono.
~Drop the rag, Jaken and follow me..~ The voice in his head commanded. Jaken dropped the bloody cloth, not noticing that he had some blood on his hand.
~Your staff, leave it here..you will not need it..~
Jaken hesitated and a rush of pain unimaginable flared in his body.
~Do as I SAY, Jaken!~
The youkai-servant dropped the staff, leaving a small bit of Rin's blood upon it.
~Good, Jaken..good..now come..the Shikon awaits..~
Jaken was relieved that he did not feel pain anymore. Only the voice mattered. He followed the sphere out of the room and then out of the castle itself..
*****
Sesshoumaru and Kagome suddenly woke up with a start.
"Rin!" Sesshoumaru gasped.
Kagome's eyes were wide as she looked at Sesshoumaru. "The Shikon no Tama! It's here!"
Both of them leaped up and dressed quickly, running to Rin's room. Sesshoumaru took in the scene immediately. Kagome could see the anger in his eyes as he saw and smelled Rin's blood. He picked up the staff of heads and growled in his throat. He could smell the remnants of her and the fear that had permeated his sleep, but he could no longer smell her at all.
"I will make Jaken eat his very innards before I shred him to nothing!" Sesshoumaru threw down the staff of heads.
"The - Shikon..it was here.." Kagome said. "Now, it's gone."
Sesshoumaru only gave her a glare as he prepared to storm out of the room, intent on find Jaken - and Rin if she still lived.
"No, wait!" Kagome stood in Sesshoumaru's path.
"Get out of my way, Kagome!" Sesshoumaru picked Kagome up off the ground.
"Damn you, Sesshoumaru! Can't you see? That's what he wants! He wants you to rush outside without any weapons! At least get that!" Kagome pleaded.
Sesshoumaru's face was impassive. He wanted to rip and rend, tear and feel the gush of blood running over his claws, but she had a point. He did not believe in the power of the Shikon and felt that he was more powerful than any foolish youkai or human who posessed it.
"Kagome! Sesshoumaru-sama!" Myoga suddenly bounced onto Sesshoumaru's shoulder. Sesshoumaru set Kagome down.
"Flea..I have no time for you." Sesshoumaru growled, plucking Myoga up by his claws.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, forgive this Myoga, but something is very wrong here. I have only felt it happen once before at the Bone Eater's Well.." He glanced at Kagome.
"A gathering of evil.." Kagome's eyes darkened. "It is Onigumo who has taken Rin, I am sure of it. Jaken - " Kagome paused. She did not like the frog-like youkai, but he was, if anything loyal to Sesshoumaru and although he could be capable of killing Rin, he would not incite the wrath of his master.
"I don't think he's killed Rin, Sesshoumaru." Kagome finally said.
"Whoever has taken her will pay dearly.." Sesshoumaru looked like he would murder then all if he could. Kagome realized that where Rin was concerned, he would tear down the very universe for her.
She wondered if he would do the same for her.
Setting the petty thought aside, Kagome said, "We will need our weapons - just in case."
"Hai.." Sesshoumaru said, "Kagome, gather your bow and arrows and the Tetsusaiga.." He looked at Kagome, a fierce light in his gold eyes. "We shall get Rin back and send the bastard Onigumo to hell.."
****
Onigumo watched as the black sphere came to him and he smiled as he saw the little human girl inside.
"Hello there, little one.." He purred. "So you are Sesshoumaru-sama's little plaything? I did not realize he went for children too.." Onigumo's eyes lit up with an unatural glow. "Perhaps - when this is over, I shall keep you, little one. After all, you will be with your Sesshoumaru-sama - after a fashion." He chuckled as he watched the three spheres float in the air, the Shikon no Tama floating above them, waiting.
Jaken just stood before Onigumo silently, his eyes staring beyond Onigumo.
"Ah, Jaken-sama..." Onigumo purred. "You have something for Onigumo, my little man.."
Jaken produced the small pouch that held his Shikon shards. They floated out of the bag and was instantly drawn to the Shikon no Tama itself. The Shikon flashed and an unholy dark light illuminated the night sky.
"Yes!!" Onigumo exhulted. "At last, it is complete!" He looked down at Jaken. "And now, you shall be of true use to me, little frog. I have need of a catalyst - and a pawn. You shall help me gain your master's body - and his soul!!"
The complete Shikon no Tama floated down to Onigumo's hand as he stared at Jaken. Jaken rose into the air, still in his trance, his arms and legs spread as he faced the dark sky.
"Shikon no Tama! Recieve me, Onigumo...." Onigumo slipped into the Shikon no Tama with ease and then the jewel seemed to have a life of it's own, floating above Jaken's prone body.
And then - the youkai souls came from the Shikon no Tama, attacking Jaken's body, pouring into the frog youkai. Jaken's eyes snapped open in terror.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Jaken screamed in pain and horror as his body twisted in mid-air. Jaken was growing, his limbs extending outwards, muscles growing in size. Fearsome teeth grew in his mouth, lengthing and extending and his eyes turned blood red. Growing, still growing as the youkai poured into him, Jaken's soul writhed in the most unimaginable pain that a youkai could ever have. He did not want this! Did not!
He was being raped mentally by the invading youkai and there was nothing he could do about it.
The Shikon no Tama still had it's hold on Jaken, and as it emptied out of youkai, only Onigumo remained. The Shikon no Tama floated above Jaken's huge head and then fused into his forehead, burning a hole within it.
Jaken screamed in agony, clutching his head, unaware that he was now a huge and powerful youkai - the most powerful youkai of all.
"JAKEN!!!" Sesshoumaru's voice cut through the air. The voice cut through the pain in Sesshoumaru's head and he turned. His old fear of Sesshoumaru returned, but the voice forestalled his speech and took control.
~Attack! Attack Sesshoumaru!!~
Kagome gasped. Jaken was huge! And worse of all, the Shikon no Tama was embedded in his forehead!
"N - no..." Jaken moaned. "Release me!!"
Sesshoumaru frowned. Jaken was being - controlled? It did not matter. If he was being controlled then he would have to kill him to find Rin. Sesshoumaru clenched his hands, his claws ready. But before he could -
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!" Jaken's body suddenly writhed in pain, and both Kagome and Sesshoumaru could hear the voice plainly come from within Jaken.
"You WILL do as I say, toad!!"
"Onigumo!" Kagome aimed her bow and arrow at Jaken. Jaken looked at Kagome and his eyes changed from that of pain to lust. Kagome took a step back in disgust.
"Don't worry, my miko..I shall have a much more pleasing form shortly.." Onigumo chuckled.
"Get out of Jaken.." Kagome still held the arrow taut with her bow, aiming at Jaken's head."
"I wouldn't if I were you, my love.." Onigumo's voice came out of Jaken's mouth. "Look what I have.." A small sphere floated to Kagome and she saw -
"Mother! Sota! Grandfather!" Kagome gasped. "Oh god, Miroku! Sango!"
She faltered and the sphere zipped away at blinding speed.
"You will not attack me, reincarnation of Kikyou..not your lover to be. If you do, I shall crush your friends and family before you!"
Kagome blanched.
But Sesshoumaru was not bound by any sort of sentiment at all. Without further ado, he attacked Jaken, tumbling his now large servant to the ground easily - almost too easily.
"Where - is - Rin?" Sesshoumaru's eyes were feral as he had his hands on Jaken's neck, squeezing and cutting in with his claws.
Onigumo chuckled. "I have her..she is alive - for now."
"You will return her to me NOW." Sesshoumaru squeezed Jaken's neck tighter.
"S - sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken's small voice came out of his mouth. "H - help me!"
Sesshoumaru paused and that was his undoing, for the posessed youkai threw Sesshoumaru off of him, causing Sesshoumaru to crash into some trees. But Sesshoumaru recovered quickly, drawing his own fang sword.
"You invade my lands.." Sesshoumaru growled. "You posess MY servant, you dare to steal what is Sesshoumaru's - you will wish for death before I am through!"
Jaken/Onigumo stood, his great height obscuring the moon above.
"Come, Sesshoumaru, let us fight for everything you hold dear - then I shall be the victor! This night I shall take your woman with your own body!"
"Yaaaaaa!" Sesshoumaru felt rage boil within him and for the first time in his life, he felt his well-taught control was slipping from him.
"Sesshoumaru! Noooo!" Kagome screamed. She knew he could not fight against the Shikon, and he would kill the Jaken that dwelled inside this monster! She knew it would be a risk, considering that her family and friends lives were at stake but she had to help Sesshoumaru!
Kagome took out the Tetsusaiga as her eyes narrowed dangerously..
Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Twenty-Seven
The Battle Begins
Sesshoumaru held Kagome against his body as they dozed, nuzzling against the warmth of her neck. His tail was wrapped against Kagome's backside as they clung to one another.
An unatural miasma filled the room, unseen and undetected by the sleeping couple. It rendered them asleep where otherwise they would have been aware of the nocturnal activities going on just beyond Sesshoumaru's chambers.
The demon-lord stirred but a little, only aware of Kagome's scent wrapped around him as his woman cuddled her soft body against his own.
****
Myoga peeked out from the covers of Shippo's blanket and frowned, sniffing the air. Something was wrong - very wrong. An air of darkness seemed to cover everything and Myoga knew it had to be something of great evil.
"Shippo!" Myoga hopped on the sleeping kitsume. "Wake up!"
The little kitsume answered the flea with a resounding snore and nearly blew Myoga away.
"A sleep spell.." Myoga frowned. "Yes, something is going on. I must go tell Sesshoumaru-sama and Kagome!" The flea hopped down and headed for Sesshoumaru's room quickly as he could.
****
The small black sphere paused over the small human girl, casting it's dark glow upon her.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" The little girl mumbled as she was lifted up into the air, her blankets falling to the floor below. As Rin floated in the air, deeply asleep, Jaken's eyes opened, but they were blank and unseeing, as if they were in a trance. He got up and took a sharp knife that he had always carried upon him - a gift from Sesshoumaru's father long ago - and advanced on the child. With a practiced ease, he placed the knife on Rin's neck but instead of slashing her throat, he simply slashed a shallow wound on her forearm. Rin winced but did not awake as the blood welled freely down her arm. Jaken then cut a piece of Rin's kimono off and placed it on the wound, soaking up a good amount of her blood. He backed away, his eyes still blank, and waited.
Rin, still poised in mid-air, was drawn closer and closer to the darkened sphere, a soft glow around her. As she was sucked up into the sphere, she woke up.
"SESSHOUMARU-SAAAMAAAAA!!"
Rin was sucked into the sphere and as the sphere left the room, Jaken prepared to follow it, his eyes still blank and his hand still holding the bloodied scrap of Rin's kimono.
~Drop the rag, Jaken and follow me..~ The voice in his head commanded. Jaken dropped the bloody cloth, not noticing that he had some blood on his hand.
~Your staff, leave it here..you will not need it..~
Jaken hesitated and a rush of pain unimaginable flared in his body.
~Do as I SAY, Jaken!~
The youkai-servant dropped the staff, leaving a small bit of Rin's blood upon it.
~Good, Jaken..good..now come..the Shikon awaits..~
Jaken was relieved that he did not feel pain anymore. Only the voice mattered. He followed the sphere out of the room and then out of the castle itself..
*****
Sesshoumaru and Kagome suddenly woke up with a start.
"Rin!" Sesshoumaru gasped.
Kagome's eyes were wide as she looked at Sesshoumaru. "The Shikon no Tama! It's here!"
Both of them leaped up and dressed quickly, running to Rin's room. Sesshoumaru took in the scene immediately. Kagome could see the anger in his eyes as he saw and smelled Rin's blood. He picked up the staff of heads and growled in his throat. He could smell the remnants of her and the fear that had permeated his sleep, but he could no longer smell her at all.
"I will make Jaken eat his very innards before I shred him to nothing!" Sesshoumaru threw down the staff of heads.
"The - Shikon..it was here.." Kagome said. "Now, it's gone."
Sesshoumaru only gave her a glare as he prepared to storm out of the room, intent on find Jaken - and Rin if she still lived.
"No, wait!" Kagome stood in Sesshoumaru's path.
"Get out of my way, Kagome!" Sesshoumaru picked Kagome up off the ground.
"Damn you, Sesshoumaru! Can't you see? That's what he wants! He wants you to rush outside without any weapons! At least get that!" Kagome pleaded.
Sesshoumaru's face was impassive. He wanted to rip and rend, tear and feel the gush of blood running over his claws, but she had a point. He did not believe in the power of the Shikon and felt that he was more powerful than any foolish youkai or human who posessed it.
"Kagome! Sesshoumaru-sama!" Myoga suddenly bounced onto Sesshoumaru's shoulder. Sesshoumaru set Kagome down.
"Flea..I have no time for you." Sesshoumaru growled, plucking Myoga up by his claws.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, forgive this Myoga, but something is very wrong here. I have only felt it happen once before at the Bone Eater's Well.." He glanced at Kagome.
"A gathering of evil.." Kagome's eyes darkened. "It is Onigumo who has taken Rin, I am sure of it. Jaken - " Kagome paused. She did not like the frog-like youkai, but he was, if anything loyal to Sesshoumaru and although he could be capable of killing Rin, he would not incite the wrath of his master.
"I don't think he's killed Rin, Sesshoumaru." Kagome finally said.
"Whoever has taken her will pay dearly.." Sesshoumaru looked like he would murder then all if he could. Kagome realized that where Rin was concerned, he would tear down the very universe for her.
She wondered if he would do the same for her.
Setting the petty thought aside, Kagome said, "We will need our weapons - just in case."
"Hai.." Sesshoumaru said, "Kagome, gather your bow and arrows and the Tetsusaiga.." He looked at Kagome, a fierce light in his gold eyes. "We shall get Rin back and send the bastard Onigumo to hell.."
****
Onigumo watched as the black sphere came to him and he smiled as he saw the little human girl inside.
"Hello there, little one.." He purred. "So you are Sesshoumaru-sama's little plaything? I did not realize he went for children too.." Onigumo's eyes lit up with an unatural glow. "Perhaps - when this is over, I shall keep you, little one. After all, you will be with your Sesshoumaru-sama - after a fashion." He chuckled as he watched the three spheres float in the air, the Shikon no Tama floating above them, waiting.
Jaken just stood before Onigumo silently, his eyes staring beyond Onigumo.
"Ah, Jaken-sama..." Onigumo purred. "You have something for Onigumo, my little man.."
Jaken produced the small pouch that held his Shikon shards. They floated out of the bag and was instantly drawn to the Shikon no Tama itself. The Shikon flashed and an unholy dark light illuminated the night sky.
"Yes!!" Onigumo exhulted. "At last, it is complete!" He looked down at Jaken. "And now, you shall be of true use to me, little frog. I have need of a catalyst - and a pawn. You shall help me gain your master's body - and his soul!!"
The complete Shikon no Tama floated down to Onigumo's hand as he stared at Jaken. Jaken rose into the air, still in his trance, his arms and legs spread as he faced the dark sky.
"Shikon no Tama! Recieve me, Onigumo...." Onigumo slipped into the Shikon no Tama with ease and then the jewel seemed to have a life of it's own, floating above Jaken's prone body.
And then - the youkai souls came from the Shikon no Tama, attacking Jaken's body, pouring into the frog youkai. Jaken's eyes snapped open in terror.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Jaken screamed in pain and horror as his body twisted in mid-air. Jaken was growing, his limbs extending outwards, muscles growing in size. Fearsome teeth grew in his mouth, lengthing and extending and his eyes turned blood red. Growing, still growing as the youkai poured into him, Jaken's soul writhed in the most unimaginable pain that a youkai could ever have. He did not want this! Did not!
He was being raped mentally by the invading youkai and there was nothing he could do about it.
The Shikon no Tama still had it's hold on Jaken, and as it emptied out of youkai, only Onigumo remained. The Shikon no Tama floated above Jaken's huge head and then fused into his forehead, burning a hole within it.
Jaken screamed in agony, clutching his head, unaware that he was now a huge and powerful youkai - the most powerful youkai of all.
"JAKEN!!!" Sesshoumaru's voice cut through the air. The voice cut through the pain in Sesshoumaru's head and he turned. His old fear of Sesshoumaru returned, but the voice forestalled his speech and took control.
~Attack! Attack Sesshoumaru!!~
Kagome gasped. Jaken was huge! And worse of all, the Shikon no Tama was embedded in his forehead!
"N - no..." Jaken moaned. "Release me!!"
Sesshoumaru frowned. Jaken was being - controlled? It did not matter. If he was being controlled then he would have to kill him to find Rin. Sesshoumaru clenched his hands, his claws ready. But before he could -
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!" Jaken's body suddenly writhed in pain, and both Kagome and Sesshoumaru could hear the voice plainly come from within Jaken.
"You WILL do as I say, toad!!"
"Onigumo!" Kagome aimed her bow and arrow at Jaken. Jaken looked at Kagome and his eyes changed from that of pain to lust. Kagome took a step back in disgust.
"Don't worry, my miko..I shall have a much more pleasing form shortly.." Onigumo chuckled.
"Get out of Jaken.." Kagome still held the arrow taut with her bow, aiming at Jaken's head."
"I wouldn't if I were you, my love.." Onigumo's voice came out of Jaken's mouth. "Look what I have.." A small sphere floated to Kagome and she saw -
"Mother! Sota! Grandfather!" Kagome gasped. "Oh god, Miroku! Sango!"
She faltered and the sphere zipped away at blinding speed.
"You will not attack me, reincarnation of Kikyou..not your lover to be. If you do, I shall crush your friends and family before you!"
Kagome blanched.
But Sesshoumaru was not bound by any sort of sentiment at all. Without further ado, he attacked Jaken, tumbling his now large servant to the ground easily - almost too easily.
"Where - is - Rin?" Sesshoumaru's eyes were feral as he had his hands on Jaken's neck, squeezing and cutting in with his claws.
Onigumo chuckled. "I have her..she is alive - for now."
"You will return her to me NOW." Sesshoumaru squeezed Jaken's neck tighter.
"S - sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken's small voice came out of his mouth. "H - help me!"
Sesshoumaru paused and that was his undoing, for the posessed youkai threw Sesshoumaru off of him, causing Sesshoumaru to crash into some trees. But Sesshoumaru recovered quickly, drawing his own fang sword.
"You invade my lands.." Sesshoumaru growled. "You posess MY servant, you dare to steal what is Sesshoumaru's - you will wish for death before I am through!"
Jaken/Onigumo stood, his great height obscuring the moon above.
"Come, Sesshoumaru, let us fight for everything you hold dear - then I shall be the victor! This night I shall take your woman with your own body!"
"Yaaaaaa!" Sesshoumaru felt rage boil within him and for the first time in his life, he felt his well-taught control was slipping from him.
"Sesshoumaru! Noooo!" Kagome screamed. She knew he could not fight against the Shikon, and he would kill the Jaken that dwelled inside this monster! She knew it would be a risk, considering that her family and friends lives were at stake but she had to help Sesshoumaru!
Kagome took out the Tetsusaiga as her eyes narrowed dangerously..
