Theft Through Seduction - Illusion


With the remarkable speed gifted to him as a full youkai, Sesshoumaru easily trailed the small portion of the soul that was Asami's. It would, he was sure, lead him directly to the village where the oni hid. And once he arrived, Sesshoumaru would see to it that the oni would regret getting him involved. He would cut him to shreds.

Sesshoumaru would grimly admit that the false Asami had fooled him. He wondered vaguely if the puppet was even anything like Asami's true nature. The oni's plan was brilliant, he also had to admit. Stay behind the scenes while someone else gather's the shards of the shikon no tama for you. But his mistake was getting Sesshoumaru involved. Did the only really believe that Sesshoumaru would give up the shards so easily after protecting a human girl? It was insulting to his name to even be seen with a human much less protecting one. The oni would pay for blemishing his name.

But when Sesshoumaru reached the village, he realized that the oni had more than blemish his name.

The barrier that had been erected by the oni was gone and Sesshoumaru could not sense any demon presence in the area. But how could he when his senses were bombarded by the results of the destruction the oni had inflicted upon the village? No one home was left standing. The frames of wood that had been built to shelter their inhabitants from the forces of nature were crushed into pieces that would be perfect for a small fire. Others had been burnt down into a pile of ashes. The ground was littered with the dead men as their flesh began to rot in the glory of their full armor. Arrows and swords were no match for this oni. No living thing was spared in the oni's wake. Women, children, animals. Their old blood and rotting corpses filled Sesshoumaru's nose as he walked through the village.

Only one house was left in tact but in poor condition as if a small battle had been waged to protect it. He assumed that the village master had lived there, that the oni had made it his new home. That Asami was inside.

Sesshoumaru entered the house with the small idea that he could be walking into a trap. Without a care or worry he preceded through the halls, following the faint scent he had come to recognize. He entered a room that smelled of jasmine and sunlight poured through a hole in the roof. In the corner of the room, Asami lay on a futon.

She was dressed in a kimono he had seen her wear when she performed her ritual. It fit her so well, as it was decorated with purple jasmine flowers. The white fabric that seemed to billow around her body provided a sharp contrast to her black hair. It was left to lay freely around her face that had become pale from being inside for so long. She looked fragile, as if the sunlight itself would harm her, but in that moment, with her eyes closed in sleep and her breathing calm and light, her beauty was beyond comparison.

As if drawn to her, Sesshoumaru knelt next to her, lifted a hand as if to touch her before he froze. He was feeling something again and he didn't care for it. Especially since he was in the embarrassing situation of being used by a female human and a lowly oni. But the sound of Asami's broken voice had him forgetting his anger for a moment.

"Why did you come here...Sesshoumaru-sama." Asami turned her head, unwilling to open her eyes as it had been hard to speak. Her body had lain there, for a time she could not recall, while a part of her soul had gone into a false body in search of jewel shards. Worse yet, that part of her soul had been forced to forget the events that occurred before it was made a slave. But now that they were rejoined, both remembered that horrible day. She had gone out in search of herbs for a medicine and returned to screams of those being crushed or burned in their own homes.

She had tried with her weak powers to stop the oni. But like the weapons the villagers had used, her efforts were worthless. And so she was captured by the oni with eyes filled with lust for power and her body. Just what, she wondered, did the oni plan to do with her once he returned from testing his new found powers on perhaps another helpless village. Perhaps if she had anything to live for, she would care. But the village was gone and her life went with it. The thought had tears come to her eyes that she didn't bother to hold back.

"I do not know why you came here, but if you are angry with me for my actions I could not control, then I welcome the end you wish to bring me. If that is not your intention, I beg of you to kill me anyway. I do not wish to live another day in that oni's presence."

Sesshoumaru stared down at her, his face void of any emotion. Why did her come here? His first reaction had been anger and that anger had led him here. He wanted nothing more than to kill the oni. So why had he come to Asami? She was no longer any of his concern. He would ask himself that question again, after he dealt with the oni. Rising to his feet he walked to the doorway. "I suggest you get up instead of acting like a weakling. Akazukin has returned."



Unstoppable. He was truly unstoppable. With two shards of the shikon no tama embedded in each of his arms and legs, he had enough power to destroy an entire mountain without so much as breaking a sweat. And the three shards embedded in his forehead gave him more power as well. Yes, he was unstoppable. He wanted to test his powers, but the weaker demons seemed to sense how powerful he was and fled for their lives. But he spotted most of them before they could go far and with a small breath, he spit fire at them and watched with pleasure as they instantly burned to a crisp. For the others he breathed deeply until their bodies shriveled from his poisonous breath.

With the power to decide who would live or die, he feared nothing and no one. And it was with this thought that he approached the waiting demon in front of his home. He recognized Sesshoumaru immediately and was grateful for the challenge, though he was confident that Sesshoumaru stood no chance against him.

There was a great difference in size as Akazukin appeared to be a giant. In his giant stature he stood proudly, brown hair flowing in the light wind, a shikon shard embedded in the base of each of his three horns. His eyes were green, but a red circle surrounded them. He licked his fangs lightly as he stared down at his new opponent.

"Sesshoumaru. It is nice to meet the demon who is responsible for helping my Asami."

"Akazukin. It is nice to meet the demon who would rely on a human woman to increase his powers."

"If you are trying to insult me, it isn't working. I do not care how I receive my powers as long as I have them."

"Then I hoped you enjoyed them for that short time because-- "

"Sesshoumaru-sama, wait!" Asami rushed forward quickly, her legs aching from being so roughly used after being idle for so long. She was grateful that Sesshoumaru turned as her knees gave. She collapsed into his arms, half standing, half kneeling, as he reluctantly held her up. "Please Sesshoumaru-sama, do not fight Akazukin. He is too powerful! There are two shards in each of his arms and legs, three in his forehead. You mustn't fight him!" She looked up at Sesshoumaru as tears flowed down her cheeks. The fear in her eyes shocked him but not more than her last words. "Please Sesshoumaru-sama, I couldn't live with myself it you died..."

He said nothing for a moment as he stared down at her in shock that his face did not show. This woman...why was she crying for him? He quickly stepped away from her, letting her fall to the ground. "Foolish girl, I, Lord Sesshoumaru, would never be defeated by such a disgrace for a demon." Turning and dismissing Asami, he attacked.

He leapt into the air, his left hand already posed for attack. Then swiftly he let his hand strike, emitting his powerful whip. As he came down, he struck Akazukin mercilessly with his whip. But with every strike, the oni shielded himself with his arms, laughing haughtily as the shards provided excellent protection.

Changing tactics, Sesshoumaru landed gracefully on the ground. Then in an instant, he moved forward in a blur of movement. Before Akazukin could react, Sesshoumaru appeared in front of him and was already delivering dangerous blows to his chest.

Akazukin stumbled back, then recovered enough to bring his hand down in an attempt to strike Sesshoumaru. But the inu-youkai was much to quick for him and dodged his attack with out much effort. Still, Akazukin had anticipated where he would move once he dodged and quickly let out a breath of fire.

Before he could react, Sesshoumaru was engulfed in flames.

Akazukin turned away from the happy sight and took a step towards Asami before he was attacked.

"Sakontetsuo!(A/N: Correct me if the spelling is way way off.)"

Pain rushed up his spine as his back was slashed with powerful claws. He turned back as a red figured landed in front of him, his claws bared for another attack. Enraged, Akazukin spit out a stream of fire that sent the hanyou stumbling back. "Burn Inuyasha! Burn along with your brother!"

What was left of some village houses now burned like torches as Akazukin set everything within ten feet of him ablaze. Rotting corpses melted down to ashes. Ashes burned away to nothing.

Asami rushed forward, dropped to her knees behind Akazukin at the horrible sight, covered her nose to block the smell of burning death. Everything.....gone....my village...Sesshoumaru-sama... "Sesshoumaru-sama..." Tears stained her cheeks, blurred her vision. She bent forward, held a hand over her heart.

Akazukin turned to her, laughed. "That fool should have listened to your warnings, now he is dead."

Asami lifted her head quickly, a strong burst of energy emitted from her body as her eyes began to glow brightly. Her eyes met with Akazukin's, locked there as she began to rise. "You...you won't live to enjoy this day..."

"Damn you!" Akazukin quickly shielded his eyes, already feeling the affects of her magic. "I will not succumb to your magic!" He fought for composure, thrashed his free hand out at her, hoping to strike her.

Her eyes returned to normal as his hand neared her, realizing she would never be able to dodge it. So she closed her eyes, braced herself for the pain and felt a rush of wind over her face. She swore she heard thunder or lightening strike in the distance and as it registered, she quickly opened her eyes.

Relief, shock, joy, pain. All rushed through her when she stared up at Sesshoumaru as he dropped her unceremoniously to the ground.

Inuyasha attacked again, just for good measure, before he landed on the ground. "You gotta do better than that if you want to get rid of me. Even with all those shards, I'll take you down!" He unsheathed Tetsusaiga, held it out in front of him.

Sesshoumaru stood next to his brother, his gaze focused on Akazukin. "Inuyasha, go away. I have had enough of your interference for one day."

"What! There is no way I am leaving with out the shards so you can just forget it."

More than fed up, Sesshoumaru turned, struck at Inuyasha with his whip. "I said leave!"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha blocked his attack with Tetsusaiga, then lunged forward in a failed attempt to strike Sesshoumaru.

"Fools! I'll take care of you both!" Akazukin inhaled deeply, exhaled a stream of poisonous gas. They collided with the flames of the burning houses and as the gases burned, a stronger stench was born causing even Sesshoumaru too stumble back.

Inuyasha covered his mouth and nose, fell to his knee as he coughed. With one eye half open, he didn't see the arm until it struck him. He flew back, collided with Sesshoumaru. He tried to get to his feet, but Sesshoumaru shoved him roughly, making him fall on his face. Before they both could stand, Akazukin stood in front of them and bombarded them with another stream of poison.

Inuyasha saw a bright light coming towards him, wondered vaguely if it symbolized his end. As it came closer, he realized it was Kagome's arrows. It purified the poison, nearly struck its intended target. But Akazukin spotted the arrow barely in time to dodge it and Inuyasha was forced to keep his head down as it raced over him. He sat up quickly as he realized Sesshoumaru was sitting behind him.

Sesshoumaru was halfway to his feet when the arrow reached him. But he froze as the light faded and the poison cleared. Fresh spilt blood quickly filled his nostrils as he knelt on one knee. He stared, confusion clearly shown on his emotionless face, at the girl that offered her body as a shield. "Asami..."

She fell to her hands and knees, lifted her head and smiled weakly up at him. "I did not think...you would be a match for a miko's arrow...It is imperative that you live... Sesshoumaru-sama." She brought her hand to her mouth as she coughed, blood staining her hand. "I fear I ruined things and do not have much time to explain. Yaida." She turned, stared up at Akazukin. "My magic will break soon, there is no need to continue this charade."

Before Sesshoumaru could speak, Akazukin changed to a formation of closely knit flower petals. They flew into the air, dancing away with a million other flower petals. His eyes traced back to where the other petals came from. The last house, the bodies of the dead, the burning houses, all turned to petals and flew away. When they were gone, he sat in the middle of the forest surrounded by trees as if the village never existed.

A few petals swept past him, stopped in front of him and some how formed into a woman. She looked much like Asami only her hair was shorter and her eyes were green. Her kimono was the same as Asami's but for the flower decor that matched the color of her eyes. She knelt by Asami's side, removed the arrow and helped her sit up.

"Sesshoumaru-sama...this is my sister Yaida, Flower Goddess of Illusion. Herself and I, as well as my other sisters, have much to explain to you."



Confused? Good. I was going to make this the last chapter, but I figured the explanation needed its own chapter. It will probably be just as long, as I know there are a lot of things I need to clear up. =D But all will be revealed and you might be able to figure out the point of my Sesshoumaru/Rin pairing sequel. Sorry for confusing you!