Intro
Made myself a pretty big mistake at the end of chapter 6.....I mentioned how there were great things to come...heh. I had NO idea of what was to come. I burnt the bridges behind me soon after crossing (metaphorically). Forgive me if this chapter doesn't come out so well. I'll be stumbling through most of it (yeah, REAL professional).
Chapter 7
***Part 1: The Search***
It had been nigh unto a month since Inuyasha had left in search of his brothers, and Kagome, along with Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, were getting terribly worried.
"We have got to go find him! I don't care if he said not to follow......can we really just sit here while who knows what is happening to him!?" Kagome said tearfully. "We have to go find him...." Slowly she slumped to her knees, and held her arms close to her chest.
Sango stepped over to her and sat down beside Kagome, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry Kagome....Inuyasha is strong. I'm sure he will be ok....but I do agree....we must find him."
"Better safe than sorry, I suppose." Miroku spoke as he picked up his staff and cracked his back lightly. "The only problem is finding where he went....which is, unfortunately, a big problem." He leaned against one of the tables in their Inn room.
"I guess we could...I don't know......find a seer...?" Sango said with a bit of question in her voice. never has she even met a seer. "I mean....people talk about them a lot....Legends, mostly....but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try and find one, right?"
"Well then....let us prepare." Miroku looked around for a moment and hit the sleeping Shippo on the head lightly.
"Hey!" The little fox spoke with a drowsy anger. "What was that for!?"
"We're leaving. Get ready." Kagome said lightly with a sniffle, as she got to her feet. "We'll find him.....we have to."
After several minutes, they all got their things situated, and headed out of the Inn. After a few hours of asking around, they got their first lead.
"Yeah, they say thet some old lady in Builo can see the future." The olf townsman pointed a finger off in a direction, assumably where the town is. "She isn't cheap though..." He shrugged his shoulders and walked off.
"Well then, that settles it...." Sango said to herself, and walked over to Kagome. "I got a tip that there's a town across the river....they say there's an old seer woman there. Shall we?"
"Yes!" She hugged Sango tight with a beaming smile. "Come on!" Kagome grabbed hold of Sango's wrist and ran off to find Miroku and Shippo.
Miroku sighed heavily to Shippo, who was on his shoulder. "This town is useless.....all they care about is the albino crow they saw seven years ago...ugh...."
"Don't worry Miroku...we'll find something eventually!" Shippo danced lightly on Miroku's shoulder, trying to cheer him up. "Hey!" He shouted out. "It's Kagome!" Shippo poked Miroku in the cheek and pointed out to his left.
"We have a tip! Come on, let's go!" Kagome shouted out and ran off in the direction the old man showed, with Sango, Miroku, and Shippo in close pursuit.
A day and a half later, they came in sight of a village, presumably Builo. Kagome sighed heavily, but with a smile on her face, as they saw the village.
"Finally. Maybe we can get some answers." Despite the exhaustion, she was obviously happy, grinning ear to ear. "Let's go!"
With a nod and smile, the group walked the rest of the distance, into the rather quiet town. Only a few people could be seen, peddling goods or working on a field. A man was walking by Sango as she stopped him for questions.
"Excuse me sir, we were told that there was someone we could see....about a certain problem." She began, trying to word it right. "Someone who can see things...that others cannot?"
"Ah, you mean the oracle!" The man said with a hearty chuckle. "Why didn't you just say so?"
Sango had a lightly embarrassed look on her face, and nodded to him. "Yes, the oracle. Where might she be located? We need her help."
"Ah, she's just up that hill." He pointed to a cabin on the top of a small hill, just at the edge of the town. "Her services come pretty cheap, too. I gotta go though." The man nodded some and walked past them.
"Well...that sure was easy." Miroku said with a grin. "Shall we?"
***Part 2: A Deal With the Devil***
Inuyasha lied chained to a wall, hanging by the wristcuffs. He had not enough sentience to bother to stand. Barbarossa's magicks still had their effect on his drained mind.
"Well brother....how far you have fallen. All your zeal and exuberance drained away with the flick of a wrist....for shame." Sesshomaru paced back and forth in the dungeon of Barbarossa's fortress, as his brother was chained helpless to the wall. "I almost feel sorry for you.....almost. You deserve far worse than this....yet...."
The large iron door leading to the dungeon opened wide, letting in light, as Barbarossa's silhouette greets Sesshomaru's eyes. Slowly the figure walked down the long stairway until he stood next to Sesshomaru.
"Greetings, Brother. Come to check in on the prisoner?" Sesshomaru questioned. "If so, you needn't worry...I've done my duty as a warden, of sorts. He'll not escape."
"Even if he was left alone, he couldn't escape. Not with the meager energy he has left. He is completely within my thrall." Barbarossa spoke as he took a few steps towards the helpless Inuyasha. "He is, in essence, my mental slave. Speak."
A second after Barbarossa finished his sentence, Inuyasha's seemingly lifeless body animated; his head lifted up some, and his mouth opened, letting out a canine-like bark. Moments after, his mouth closed, and head dropped back down.
"Impressive. You said these magicks were not of this world.....if that is so, then where are they from, Barbarossa?" Sesshomaru grinned some, prodding Barbarossa for answers.
The elder turned to Sesshomaru and quirked and eyebrow. "That is nothing you need to know, Sesshomaru. Everyone is allowed their own secrets, and privacy...." He glared to Sesshomaru with question. "I'll be leaving you to your own devices for a few days. I have....things to take care of. I trust you'll have no problems with a would-be corpse."
"Have faith in me, Barbarossa. Inuyasha will be fine. I promise." Sesshomaru bowed his head to his elder lightly, and looked up to him. "Have faith."
Barbarossa shook his head some and started up the stairs. "Fine. I will have faith in you. Make sure nothing happens...." A moment later, the door to the dungeon was shut, and Barbarossa was gone.
"Don't talk down to me like some child, Barbarossa....or you'll find you've bitten off more than you can chew." Sesshomaru growled to himself and glared at Inuyasha a moment, before a smile crossed his face. "You could be most useful...."
He flicked his tongue against his teeth lightly, pacing before Inuyasha yet again. "Well....he said that Inuyasha's power was not enough to break the thrall....but how about my power. Surely his latent energies cannot keep me from breaking the spell. The old man isn't even here....there's no way his powers are focused enough to stop me."
Sesshomaru placed his hand over Inuyasha's head and started to focus. A metallic blue light shone from his fingertips as they plunged at Inuyasha. The red light surrounding the youngest began to fade as Barbarossa's magicks were dimmed, and eventually dispersed.
"Well..." Sesshomaru began, catching a breath from the strenuous energy draining. "Good morning, brother. Happy to see me?" He grinned some, not letting on that he wanted something.
"What....? Where....SESSHOMARU! What are you doing here? Where am I!?" Inuyasha tugged at his chains and growled at Sesshomaru.
"You are in Barbarossa's dungeon. He has left us for the evening, and perhaps a few days after that. I woke you from his magicks to bring to you a proposition. I think you'll find it most interesting...." A grin crossed Sesshomaru's face as he leaned against the wall right next to Inuyasha.
"Why would you think I would EVER accept anything from you, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha's words were filled with rage, as Sesshomaru had expected.
"It's not unknown for two adversaries to unite to defeat the greater threat.....I wish to do the same with you..." Sesshomaru spoke lightly, just in case Barbarossa was still in the area. He wouldn't risk it.
"Why would you do something like that? He's bailed you out of more than I'm sure you'd like to remember. Not only that, he's blood." Inuyasha's words carried both an interested and perplexed tone.
"He doesn't respect me. I feel that once he finished what I asked him for, he'll kill me. He looks at me like a nuisance. I don't like being looked down upon. He must be taken care of before he takes care of m......us." He tripped over his final word, but nonchalant enough that Inuyasha didn't even notice.
"What exactly do I get out of this, eh?" Inuyasha was quick to find out his gain. He couldn't figure out anything that Sesshomaru could give him.
"I'll give you your Tetsusaiga...." Sesshomaru sighed heavily. "And I'll leave you alone. We'll never meet again on the field of battle. I'm sure you've had enough of this squabble. Don't get me wrong though....I want that sword, but certain things are more important...." There was a noticeable pain in Sesshomaru's voice. He was asking the help of his little brother, whom he has always considered inferior.
"Your pride is gone eh?" Inuyasha grinned at his brothers weakness, but it soon faded. "Fine....I'll help. I want him gone too. Let me out of these chains..."
Surprise took over Sesshomaru's face. It was a shock that Inuyasha was so easily swayed to his point of view. He smiles lightly, and removed the chains from Inuyasha's wrists. Immediately, the young half-demon took a defensive stance, ready for an attack from Sesshomaru.
"Hmph.....can't say I wouldn't be the same way, were I in your position. I'm not going to attack you. Come...let's get you your sword..."
**Part 3: The Oracle***
Miroku tapped on the door of the cabin with his staff. After a several minutes, he did the same again. Finally, someone came to the door. it was an elderly woman, dressed in flowing white robes, with a red cloth belt.
"Can I help you young ones?" She spoke in a light, shaky voice.
"Yes....you must be the oracle!" Kagome began. "We humbly request your assistance in finding a friend!"
"Oracle?" She laughed lightly. "No, I am not. Please, come inside and you'll meet the oracle."
The elderly woman led them inside the cabin where she had them sit in a small room, right outside what they believed to be the oracle room. Several minutes passed as they all grew rather eager to get on with this.
"The oracle will see you now..." The elderly woman, who had been standing there the whole time, finally spoke up.
They all stood and stretched some, and opened the door. In the room were three chairs, as well as a rather small pillow. They could see person standing at a bookshelf, looking over a book. Unfortunately, the oracles back was to them.
They all sat down in wait; Miroku, Kagome and Sango in chairs, and Shippo on the pillow. After several more minutes of silent waiting, the Oracle turned to them, and sat down in a large chair before them.
"Wait a minute..."Sango started. "I thought you were supposed to be a woman?"
"You thought wrong." In the chair was a relatively young man with a commanding voice. he had shoulder length black hair slicked back and sharp eyes. "I am Sima Liang, prophet and oracle of these parts. What have you come to me for?"
"Sima Liang? That isn't a Japanese name...." Sango commented under her breath.
The prophet sighed heavily. "Yes, you're very astute. Can we please get on with this? I have things to do, you know? Ask me your question."
"I apologize...."Sango spoke lightly, with her head down.
"Well..., we are looking for a friend." Kagome smiled some with a little worry. "His name is Inuyasha. He is half demon. Can you please tell us where he might be at?"
Sima Liang sat there for a moment with his eyes closed. "Hmmm....he is in the mountains....surrounded by iron. There is another with him. One of blood and magick. Four days due east and it will be in your sight. Do not worry about payment." Moments after his words, he stood and returned to his book, ignoring them once more.
Without a word, the four left the room, thanked the old woman, and left the cabin as well.
"He was a bit rude, now wasn't he." Miroku grumbled some. "And didn't they say that his work wasn't going to be cheap?"
"Yeah...something odd....oh well. We should start off right? To the mountains!" Shippo yelled with a light laugh, ready to see Inuyasha again.
End of Chapter 7
Eh....that chapter didn't turn out too badly, now did it? I got a good bead on this starting the second part...probably why it's the longest part. I have a few ideas of what's to come next, and hopefully, they'll turn out pretty well. I expect the next chapter some time next week. Have fun until next time. ^_^
Made myself a pretty big mistake at the end of chapter 6.....I mentioned how there were great things to come...heh. I had NO idea of what was to come. I burnt the bridges behind me soon after crossing (metaphorically). Forgive me if this chapter doesn't come out so well. I'll be stumbling through most of it (yeah, REAL professional).
Chapter 7
***Part 1: The Search***
It had been nigh unto a month since Inuyasha had left in search of his brothers, and Kagome, along with Miroku, Sango, and Shippo, were getting terribly worried.
"We have got to go find him! I don't care if he said not to follow......can we really just sit here while who knows what is happening to him!?" Kagome said tearfully. "We have to go find him...." Slowly she slumped to her knees, and held her arms close to her chest.
Sango stepped over to her and sat down beside Kagome, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry Kagome....Inuyasha is strong. I'm sure he will be ok....but I do agree....we must find him."
"Better safe than sorry, I suppose." Miroku spoke as he picked up his staff and cracked his back lightly. "The only problem is finding where he went....which is, unfortunately, a big problem." He leaned against one of the tables in their Inn room.
"I guess we could...I don't know......find a seer...?" Sango said with a bit of question in her voice. never has she even met a seer. "I mean....people talk about them a lot....Legends, mostly....but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try and find one, right?"
"Well then....let us prepare." Miroku looked around for a moment and hit the sleeping Shippo on the head lightly.
"Hey!" The little fox spoke with a drowsy anger. "What was that for!?"
"We're leaving. Get ready." Kagome said lightly with a sniffle, as she got to her feet. "We'll find him.....we have to."
After several minutes, they all got their things situated, and headed out of the Inn. After a few hours of asking around, they got their first lead.
"Yeah, they say thet some old lady in Builo can see the future." The olf townsman pointed a finger off in a direction, assumably where the town is. "She isn't cheap though..." He shrugged his shoulders and walked off.
"Well then, that settles it...." Sango said to herself, and walked over to Kagome. "I got a tip that there's a town across the river....they say there's an old seer woman there. Shall we?"
"Yes!" She hugged Sango tight with a beaming smile. "Come on!" Kagome grabbed hold of Sango's wrist and ran off to find Miroku and Shippo.
Miroku sighed heavily to Shippo, who was on his shoulder. "This town is useless.....all they care about is the albino crow they saw seven years ago...ugh...."
"Don't worry Miroku...we'll find something eventually!" Shippo danced lightly on Miroku's shoulder, trying to cheer him up. "Hey!" He shouted out. "It's Kagome!" Shippo poked Miroku in the cheek and pointed out to his left.
"We have a tip! Come on, let's go!" Kagome shouted out and ran off in the direction the old man showed, with Sango, Miroku, and Shippo in close pursuit.
A day and a half later, they came in sight of a village, presumably Builo. Kagome sighed heavily, but with a smile on her face, as they saw the village.
"Finally. Maybe we can get some answers." Despite the exhaustion, she was obviously happy, grinning ear to ear. "Let's go!"
With a nod and smile, the group walked the rest of the distance, into the rather quiet town. Only a few people could be seen, peddling goods or working on a field. A man was walking by Sango as she stopped him for questions.
"Excuse me sir, we were told that there was someone we could see....about a certain problem." She began, trying to word it right. "Someone who can see things...that others cannot?"
"Ah, you mean the oracle!" The man said with a hearty chuckle. "Why didn't you just say so?"
Sango had a lightly embarrassed look on her face, and nodded to him. "Yes, the oracle. Where might she be located? We need her help."
"Ah, she's just up that hill." He pointed to a cabin on the top of a small hill, just at the edge of the town. "Her services come pretty cheap, too. I gotta go though." The man nodded some and walked past them.
"Well...that sure was easy." Miroku said with a grin. "Shall we?"
***Part 2: A Deal With the Devil***
Inuyasha lied chained to a wall, hanging by the wristcuffs. He had not enough sentience to bother to stand. Barbarossa's magicks still had their effect on his drained mind.
"Well brother....how far you have fallen. All your zeal and exuberance drained away with the flick of a wrist....for shame." Sesshomaru paced back and forth in the dungeon of Barbarossa's fortress, as his brother was chained helpless to the wall. "I almost feel sorry for you.....almost. You deserve far worse than this....yet...."
The large iron door leading to the dungeon opened wide, letting in light, as Barbarossa's silhouette greets Sesshomaru's eyes. Slowly the figure walked down the long stairway until he stood next to Sesshomaru.
"Greetings, Brother. Come to check in on the prisoner?" Sesshomaru questioned. "If so, you needn't worry...I've done my duty as a warden, of sorts. He'll not escape."
"Even if he was left alone, he couldn't escape. Not with the meager energy he has left. He is completely within my thrall." Barbarossa spoke as he took a few steps towards the helpless Inuyasha. "He is, in essence, my mental slave. Speak."
A second after Barbarossa finished his sentence, Inuyasha's seemingly lifeless body animated; his head lifted up some, and his mouth opened, letting out a canine-like bark. Moments after, his mouth closed, and head dropped back down.
"Impressive. You said these magicks were not of this world.....if that is so, then where are they from, Barbarossa?" Sesshomaru grinned some, prodding Barbarossa for answers.
The elder turned to Sesshomaru and quirked and eyebrow. "That is nothing you need to know, Sesshomaru. Everyone is allowed their own secrets, and privacy...." He glared to Sesshomaru with question. "I'll be leaving you to your own devices for a few days. I have....things to take care of. I trust you'll have no problems with a would-be corpse."
"Have faith in me, Barbarossa. Inuyasha will be fine. I promise." Sesshomaru bowed his head to his elder lightly, and looked up to him. "Have faith."
Barbarossa shook his head some and started up the stairs. "Fine. I will have faith in you. Make sure nothing happens...." A moment later, the door to the dungeon was shut, and Barbarossa was gone.
"Don't talk down to me like some child, Barbarossa....or you'll find you've bitten off more than you can chew." Sesshomaru growled to himself and glared at Inuyasha a moment, before a smile crossed his face. "You could be most useful...."
He flicked his tongue against his teeth lightly, pacing before Inuyasha yet again. "Well....he said that Inuyasha's power was not enough to break the thrall....but how about my power. Surely his latent energies cannot keep me from breaking the spell. The old man isn't even here....there's no way his powers are focused enough to stop me."
Sesshomaru placed his hand over Inuyasha's head and started to focus. A metallic blue light shone from his fingertips as they plunged at Inuyasha. The red light surrounding the youngest began to fade as Barbarossa's magicks were dimmed, and eventually dispersed.
"Well..." Sesshomaru began, catching a breath from the strenuous energy draining. "Good morning, brother. Happy to see me?" He grinned some, not letting on that he wanted something.
"What....? Where....SESSHOMARU! What are you doing here? Where am I!?" Inuyasha tugged at his chains and growled at Sesshomaru.
"You are in Barbarossa's dungeon. He has left us for the evening, and perhaps a few days after that. I woke you from his magicks to bring to you a proposition. I think you'll find it most interesting...." A grin crossed Sesshomaru's face as he leaned against the wall right next to Inuyasha.
"Why would you think I would EVER accept anything from you, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha's words were filled with rage, as Sesshomaru had expected.
"It's not unknown for two adversaries to unite to defeat the greater threat.....I wish to do the same with you..." Sesshomaru spoke lightly, just in case Barbarossa was still in the area. He wouldn't risk it.
"Why would you do something like that? He's bailed you out of more than I'm sure you'd like to remember. Not only that, he's blood." Inuyasha's words carried both an interested and perplexed tone.
"He doesn't respect me. I feel that once he finished what I asked him for, he'll kill me. He looks at me like a nuisance. I don't like being looked down upon. He must be taken care of before he takes care of m......us." He tripped over his final word, but nonchalant enough that Inuyasha didn't even notice.
"What exactly do I get out of this, eh?" Inuyasha was quick to find out his gain. He couldn't figure out anything that Sesshomaru could give him.
"I'll give you your Tetsusaiga...." Sesshomaru sighed heavily. "And I'll leave you alone. We'll never meet again on the field of battle. I'm sure you've had enough of this squabble. Don't get me wrong though....I want that sword, but certain things are more important...." There was a noticeable pain in Sesshomaru's voice. He was asking the help of his little brother, whom he has always considered inferior.
"Your pride is gone eh?" Inuyasha grinned at his brothers weakness, but it soon faded. "Fine....I'll help. I want him gone too. Let me out of these chains..."
Surprise took over Sesshomaru's face. It was a shock that Inuyasha was so easily swayed to his point of view. He smiles lightly, and removed the chains from Inuyasha's wrists. Immediately, the young half-demon took a defensive stance, ready for an attack from Sesshomaru.
"Hmph.....can't say I wouldn't be the same way, were I in your position. I'm not going to attack you. Come...let's get you your sword..."
**Part 3: The Oracle***
Miroku tapped on the door of the cabin with his staff. After a several minutes, he did the same again. Finally, someone came to the door. it was an elderly woman, dressed in flowing white robes, with a red cloth belt.
"Can I help you young ones?" She spoke in a light, shaky voice.
"Yes....you must be the oracle!" Kagome began. "We humbly request your assistance in finding a friend!"
"Oracle?" She laughed lightly. "No, I am not. Please, come inside and you'll meet the oracle."
The elderly woman led them inside the cabin where she had them sit in a small room, right outside what they believed to be the oracle room. Several minutes passed as they all grew rather eager to get on with this.
"The oracle will see you now..." The elderly woman, who had been standing there the whole time, finally spoke up.
They all stood and stretched some, and opened the door. In the room were three chairs, as well as a rather small pillow. They could see person standing at a bookshelf, looking over a book. Unfortunately, the oracles back was to them.
They all sat down in wait; Miroku, Kagome and Sango in chairs, and Shippo on the pillow. After several more minutes of silent waiting, the Oracle turned to them, and sat down in a large chair before them.
"Wait a minute..."Sango started. "I thought you were supposed to be a woman?"
"You thought wrong." In the chair was a relatively young man with a commanding voice. he had shoulder length black hair slicked back and sharp eyes. "I am Sima Liang, prophet and oracle of these parts. What have you come to me for?"
"Sima Liang? That isn't a Japanese name...." Sango commented under her breath.
The prophet sighed heavily. "Yes, you're very astute. Can we please get on with this? I have things to do, you know? Ask me your question."
"I apologize...."Sango spoke lightly, with her head down.
"Well..., we are looking for a friend." Kagome smiled some with a little worry. "His name is Inuyasha. He is half demon. Can you please tell us where he might be at?"
Sima Liang sat there for a moment with his eyes closed. "Hmmm....he is in the mountains....surrounded by iron. There is another with him. One of blood and magick. Four days due east and it will be in your sight. Do not worry about payment." Moments after his words, he stood and returned to his book, ignoring them once more.
Without a word, the four left the room, thanked the old woman, and left the cabin as well.
"He was a bit rude, now wasn't he." Miroku grumbled some. "And didn't they say that his work wasn't going to be cheap?"
"Yeah...something odd....oh well. We should start off right? To the mountains!" Shippo yelled with a light laugh, ready to see Inuyasha again.
End of Chapter 7
Eh....that chapter didn't turn out too badly, now did it? I got a good bead on this starting the second part...probably why it's the longest part. I have a few ideas of what's to come next, and hopefully, they'll turn out pretty well. I expect the next chapter some time next week. Have fun until next time. ^_^