{Disclaimer: Again, see Chapter One.}
The winners of the 'Vengeance' contest are below! Thanks to everyone that participated and enjoy your chapters!
First Place: Jamesblondegirl
Second Place: Em Starcatcher
If you want to see their entries, please go to mm.org. I should be posting them shortly.
SF: My computer is having a mid life crisis, so if you don't see your review response below just email it back to me and I'll put it up on the next chapter. I don't know what the hell's wrong with this thing!
Chapter Two: Search for Sesshoumaru
"Where in the seven hells is Sesshoumaru?" bellowed Inuyasha, watching Kaede and the other girls nurse Jakken. He was helping Miroku in the village (if you call keeping the monk off the local girls helping) when he caught wind of the scent of blood. He dropped Miroku, who he was currently bashing for a perverted comment about Kagome and her skirts, and raced toward it. He found Kagome and Sango a little more than a few inches away from camp. Kagome held some sort of ugly lump of bloody clothes and Shippou was holding a crying child on Kirara's back. He approached Kagome carefully, her words coming to him like whispers on the wind.
"It's bad, Inuyasha. I don't think he'll make it."
His nose caught the scent on the rags in her arms and realized it was Jakken. There were other scents on him, mixes of blood from humans and demons alike. 'So, my brother has decided to continue his old ways. I thought maybe he would change because of Sango.' The next scent knocked him on his butt in disbelief.
It was Sesshoumaru's.
"Bring him to Kaede." he said, leading the others to her hut.
********
"Lord Sesshoumaru has been taken," Jakken whispered, coughing a little as he did so. Kaede bandaged him up while Kagome bathed the blood off Rin, who seemed more than thrilled to get the sticky stuff off her.
"The northwestern castle was attacked and everyone, human or demon, was slaughtered. Sesshoumaru tried to fight them off, but there were too many of them. They subdued him by wrapping a set of glowing chains around him."
Inuyasha nodded, but said nothing. Kagome patted a wet cloth to Jakken's head, motioning for him to continue.
"His last order before they dragged him away was to get Rin to you, Inuyasha." Jakken scowled. "I was almost here but a group of demons surrounded me. It took everything I had to get us out of there."
Kagome stood up and came to a stop in front of Inuyasha, her eyes searching his. "What are you going to do?"
Inuyasha tore his gaze away from her to Jakken, shooting him the look of death. "Which way did they take him?"
"East. It was the Great Demon of that land that sent the demons to storm the castle." Inuyasha nodded again and motioned for the others to step outside the shed.
"I don't like this." Miroku stated, his hand clutching his staff for dear life.
Inuyasha sighed. "The chains Jakken was talking about are called the Infimate Rings." Inuyasha shook his head. "They were designed for lesser demons. They wouldn't be able to hold me, so its just weird that Sesshoumaru was taken so easily."
"Do you think a jewel shard is involved?" Kagome asked.
"I wouldn't doubt it."
Miroku stared into the distance, his eyes unfocused. "I don't like the looks of this at all."
Kagome and Sango studied Inuyasha's profile for a hint at what he was feeling. He stood with his back to the wind, his expression as emotionless as the missing demon they were talking about. Over the past months, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha managed to put aside their differences, coming to a certain level of tolerance for each other. If Inuyasha hadn't felt something different for his older brother, he would have stopped his visits to Sango a long time ago. 'I don't know why everyone around here thinks I'm too stupid to know what's going on around me.' His thoughts scattered when he felt a feathery touch rest on his hand. Inuyasha looked down and into a pair of inquisitive gray eyes.
"Inuyasha, are you going to go get him?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha snorted. "He's a Great Demon. He can take care of himself. Why should I go save him?"
Kagome's face darkened. "Because he saved your life at the Demon Tournaments, you moron."
"My life wouldn't have needed saving if Sesshoumaru had been paying attention instead of letting his guard down!"
"So? He still could have left you to die, idiot!"
"Idiot? Have you forgotten that he cut you at the same time? You've been going through straight hell these past months because of him!"
Kagome seethed and turned away from him, choosing to look at Sango. One look at the older girl let her know that if Inuyasha didn't go, she would, even if she had to fight a hundred demons by herself. Sango's loyalty to her new friend had all the fringe benefits, including the saving of his life at a short notice. Inuyasha studied her for a moment, a slow grin spreading across his face as he stepped around Kagome and into Sango's face.
"Sango, do you want me to go? Do you want me to find Sesshoumaru?"
"What difference does it make?" Miroku shook his staff in warning at Inuyasha, who ignored him completely for the growing color in Sango's face.
"He's your brother, Inuyasha. You do as you please."
Inuyasha shook his head as if he were scolding a small child. "That's not what I asked you. I asked if you wanted me to save him. To bring him back." Sango's blush threatened to reach her toes if he kept this up. Kagome stepped in for the save.
"Inuyasha, leave her alone. We have better things to do than watch you breathe in her face."
Inuyasha scowled at her, but cast a knowing wink at Sango. Sango shuddered and walked back to the hut. Kagome was already there, gathering her bow and arrows. Sango approached her.
"I don't mind if you know about Sesshoumaru, but Inuyasha is so creepy like this. Its almost like he thinks its funny." Kagome sighed.
"Believe it or not, he does."
Inuyasha's head poked in through the door. "Come on slowpokes. Get a move on. We're leaving." He cast a look to Shippou, who was teaching Rin how to play one of the kid's games Kagome brought for him from her time. "Hey runt! You stay here!"
Shippou started to protest, but nodded in defeat. The look on Inuyasha's face said without a word that he would not tolerate the kit's normal disagreements. Kagome patted his head lovingly. "Don't worry, Shippou. We'll be back before you know it. Take care if Rin." She grimaced. "Jakken too."
Jakken snorted in insult. "I don't need some child to take care of me! A fossil of a human either!"
Kagome clicked her tongue in disapproval. "Don't be so disrespectful, Jakken. Kaede bandaged your wounds. We could have left you in the bushes." Kagome didn't wait for his rebuttal. She and Sango stepped outside the hut and walked behind the men to the village exit.
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Inuyasha: And here comes the worthless hanyou to Sesshoumaru's rescue.
Sesshou: Watch your mouth, half breed…
Inuyasha: Awwww….is Fluffy-wuppy grumpy-wumpy?
Wump!
SF: {::watching Sesshou and Inuyasha fight::} I was wondering when that was going to happen. Oh well. The preview and reviewer responses are below. {::glances at Inu cast::} Anyone want to break those two up?
Chapter Two: And Then There Were Two
"Kagome, you are more powerful than my sister ever was because of the jewel. That's why you can purify it so easily. You must trust your powers if you plan to get Inuyasha back."
Kagome blushed. Could she really do it?
"You must trust in yourself. You have seen your power manifest itself in your arrows. All you have to do is learn to use that power without them."
Responses:
Fanfiction-
PasoLover: Thanks so much for the praise and I hope this fic doesn't disappoint.
Animegirl11: Don't feel bad for being late. My moms says that I would be late for my own wedding. We had a thunderstorm two Fridays ago and a lightening bolt went through our phone line directly to our modem. I was sitting in front of it at the time, so when it did all this I somehow got shocked. At least that's what my brother says. I didn't feel a thing, but the next thing I knew I was on the floor. But no worries, b/c I'm perfectly fine! Just missing a few feathers! Glad you're back!
Tessa: Thanks! I wish someone would have drawn that for the contest, but what can you do?
Jazzylady: {::laughs::} You're too much! I'd be glad to send him to you. {::shoves Sesshou in JL's direction::} Get a going. I need a break. Thanks for the review!
Sugarhighs:p: If I blow your head off, you'll never update. I'm not willing to take the risk. I took it as a compliment anyway. Yes, Sesshou would love that, but since when did I care what he liked? He'll be all damned right. (Sorry, family saying.)
LadyWyrsa: Thanks for the praise! Really, it isn't as hard as it looks, b/c the 'Vengeance' and 'Unexpected Allies' series are already finished. The only one I'm working on is 'To Bear' and its becoming harder than I though. I should have started 'The Regulators' and went on but nooooooo....my muse just had to insist. What can you do, the kid's only three. Thanks again and enjoy the archives.
Saturine Succubus: Thanks for the love and I hope you like part two!
Sesshyangel: Um, er...wait a minute, it's coming! Ah Ha, here it is...oh wait. I can't tell you. It is explained in the chapter above and in chapters to come. Sorry. I'm so evil! Muhahahahahahahahaha!
Em: As I said at the end of chapter one, Sesshou will be just fine with being kidnapped with his wonderful self. Sesshou: You called me wonderful. I knew you liked me. SF: Of course I do. What independent woman wouldn't like a controlling, overbearing ass like you? Sesshou: ::growl:: SF: Hehe...just kidding. I'd better go before I end up in the rafters again! Thanks for the review!
Vegito004: Thanks so much! Kagome said that b/c I said that about Inu-chan when I first signed on to ff. I knew I rubbed off on her, but I didn't think it was that bad! Man! Anyway, enjoy this chapter and look for another one Friday.
Phoenix Raven: Thanks so much! I can't tell you what happens, b/c if I do I'd ruin the surprise for you.
Diamond_DragonLeon: Thanks so much for the love and I'm glad you liked 'What to Do...' too!
Shanoni: Thanks so much and welcome to the archive!
Tokia: Thanks!