Inu: ( whispering ) arigato to those who read.
Hiei: Come out!
Inu: ( whispering ) I hope you enjoy it.
Hiei: I'm gonna get you for poking my eye.
Inu: ( thoughts ) good thing he's blind.\
Naraku's Newest Creation
Kagome stirs and sits up. Once again she wakes at sunrise.
' Early to bed, earlier to wake.' Kagome says mentally. She sits up. Shippo sleeping on the giant firecat. Sango on the left and Miroku on the right of them. Taisho is...nowhere to be found.
" Where did Taisho go?" Kagome ponders.
" I'm here." Taisho says from behind her. Taisho has his back against the wall with his eyes closed.
" Did you sleep like that?" Kagome asks curiously.
" Hai, I find this more comfortable than the floor. You'd be surprised." Answers Taisho standing up. " Do we need anything?"
" No."
" Then I'll be back in a while. I need some time to think." Taisho repliers over his shoulder walking out of the hut.
" He's mysterious." Kagome says under her breath.
Minutes later everyone wakes up at different times. The result: Another disappointed Miroku.
" How do you feel this morning?" Kagome asked everyone
" Refreshed." Sango says while she stretches out.
" Tired." Miroku added rubbing his eye. " I couldn't sleep. Something just didn't seem right. Like we were being watched."
" I agree. Last night I felt a odd aura too." Agrees Kagome.
" What do you think of it? Naraku? Or something else?" Sango interrogates.
Elsewhere
Sesshomaru walks in a deep train of thought.
' Even I do not know. I followed my brother's scent to that house and only to find three humans. What could have happened to Inuyasha? Could my brother be gone? Can it really be?' Sesshomaru muses.
" Where are you, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asks outloud.
" Losing your touch?" a voice echoes around him.
" Who is there?" questions Sesshomaru.
" I am your brother, but where I am. That's a tough one." It answers.
" Show yourself if you are my brother." Sesshomaru demands.
" If I could I would. Just to see the look on your face when you see me."
" Show yourself, Inuyasha. I know your cockiness anywhere."
" Yet you know not my scent?" it messes with him.
" Inuyasha! Show yourself or I'll find you." Sesshomaru threatens aggravated.
" And I thought you the strategist. Look whose the brute now." The ominous voice rings
" You are just...." Sesshomaru stutters.
" You'll see me when you see me. But for now I'll keep my pacifistic streak." The voice vanishes.
" Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru shouts and then sees what he's doing.
' How did this happen. My brother, the half-bread , frustrated me, Sesshomaru! Inuyasha has changed. He seems more mature. He bested me, made me look like a fool. What has changed?'
Back at the hut
Taisho walks into the hut with a satisfied look on his face.
" What?" Taisho asks seeing everyone glaring at him " Did I do something?"
" We want to know more about you. You seem different from usual people." Miroku states.
" What does that mean? You aren't exactly normal yourself." Motioning to the kazaana.
" Not that. Your aura is that of a demon yet you are human. Who are you?" Kagome asks.
This seems to anger and make Taisho nervous.
" That is no worry of yours. I don't tell my life story to anyone who asks!" Taisho shouts.
" That just makes it more suspicious." Sango informs him.
" Listen, I want to work off my debt to Inuyasha by bringing you all to him, but I will not stand being interrogated! If you don't trust me, fine! I'll leave; you can find Inuyasha on your own." Taisho shouts.
Everyone goes silent.
" We want to find Inuyasha, but we need to know who we're working with." Kagome states.
" I want to tell you, but I can't. In other words: The rose, despite its beauty , it has thorns. Let's leave it at that." Taisho negotiates.
" Soon you'll have to tell us." Miroku says.
" No, I won't." Taisho answers ' I'd have to show you.'
Castle
Naraku fingers his almost completed jewel shards.
" Inuyasha, Inuyasha. You went and got yourself killed. What should we do now? Your friends are defenseless. We'll have to take the shards now. Don't you agree?" Naraku says to someone over his shoulder.
" We should." Answers a deep voice.
" I must say. You seem much more obedient than Kagura and Kanna. Why should I just you when I couldn't trust them." Naraku asks.
" My claws cry for blood. I must feast before the night is over." The being replies.
" If you wish. I infer you'll come back with the rest of the jewel?" Naraku infers.
" Of course."
" Then leave."
In a swift movement the being vanishes behind Naraku.
' Let's see if you friends can fend for themselves, Inuyasha.'
At the hut
" This village is much like Kaede's." Sango says her opinion.
" Yes, they seem very kind. No one's come though, so they're not so neighborly." Miroku adds.
" It's unnerving, look." Sango points to the villagers.
" Their faces are expressionless." Sango and Miroku exchange worried glances " Is this the work of a demon?"
" Kagome!" Sango yells.
" What?" Kagome comes running out of the hut.
" What do you make of this?" Sango asks.
" I don't think this is good." Kagome answers.
" And it isn't." a deep voice says
" Who is there?" Miroku interrogated.
" I am Naraku's fifth incarnation, Zacunai." The voice replies.
" Where are you?" Miroku shouts.
" You will see." Zarcunai tells.
The sun sets behind them. Darkness befalls the village.
A figure stands in front of them. It's a black figure, that's practically all it is. In best terms: It's just a shadow. It has a head but no face. It has the shape of a very scrawny, skinny man. You can see his bone's impression on his skin, like a cadaver.
" I am Zarcunai, the demon of darkness." Comes from its faceless head.
" Look at that thing!" Sango exclaims.
" Another incarnation." Curses Miroku
" What do you want?" asks Kagome.
" Your Shikon Jewel shards now that your beloved Inuyasha is dead." Zarcunai says firmly.
" Inuyasha is not dead." Taisho replies just as firm stepping out of the hut.
" His scent has vanished. Inuyasha is no longer."
" Inuyasha's NOT DEAD!" yells Kagome angrily.
" Then what do you make of this." Zarcunai asks.
He summons a human from behind him. The villager comes forth with a sword in his hands.
" That's Tetsusaiga!" Kagome exclaims.
" Do you think Inuyasha would abandon his precious protector sword?" Zarcunai asks.
Kagome starts to cry.
" No! Inuyasha can't be dead!" Kagome cries.
" Yes, little miko. Inuyasha is dead." Zarcunai laughs.
Taisho puts a hand on Kagome's shoulder, eyes still fixed on Zarcunai.
" Kagome, don't believe him. You can't tell if he's lying or not since he has no expressions." Taisho comforts her.
" Sango, Miroku, take Kagome somewhere safe." Taisho orders.
" We can't leave you al.."
" Now! I can take him until one of you comes back." Taisho says.
" Right." They nod and grab Kagome " Come on."
Taisho turns completely to Zarcunai.
" Come on." Taisho puts one hand on his sword's sheath and his other on it's handle "Let's dance."
" You've grown more arrogant." Zarcunai growls.
" And you taller." Taisho replies.
" Last time you couldn't beat me. What makes it different now?"
" I'm more powerful. Besides, I want that sword back. This one's doesn't appeal much to the eye." Taisho answers.
Taisho draws his swords. The blade is blood-red. Near the tip there's a symbol that stands for ' slayer of dragons'. It vibrates and points its tip toward Zarcunai.
" Aww, it remembers you." Taisho laughs.
" How can that be?! It snapped it in two!" Zarcunai exclaims nervously.
" You cannot kill a phoenix. When its time comes it burns up and rises again from its ashes stronger and more powerful than ever before." Taisho explains.
" It does not matter. Your blood will stain my claws human." Zarcunai growls.
" You forget." Taisho grasps the handle of his sword with both hands. " I'm neither youkai nor human."
" You're right."
Then in unison they both say.
" Let's finish this dance."
In the woods
" We must help Taisho." Kagome declares.
" He told us to stay here." Shippo says from atop her head.
" One of you two go help him then." Kagome says to Miroku and Sango.
" I shall go." Miroku answers her. " Wish me luck Sango, darling."
" Nice try. Now go." Sango pushes him an opposing direction.
Miroku wanders.
' Where did the village go?'
Miroku covers his eyes from the blinding light that just flashed from a direction.
" Oh no!"
Miroku hurries to the village sight.
Miroku loses his breath at what he sees.
With his back facing him is Taisho. His sword glows red, like it's on fire. Two white wings protrude from Taisho's back. Taisho turns and faces Miroku. A horizontal stripe divides his face. The upper part of his face is red. A gold streak of hair goes down his hair. His eyes are a very deep blue.
" Miroku?!" Taisho says worriedly.
" Wh-what in Buddha's name are you?" Miroku asks very startled at Taisho's appearance.
" A deity, but" Taisho new features vanish. He walks up to Miroku and puts a hand on his hand. " it's best if you forgot."
Taisho hand pulsates and Miroku's eyes go blank for just a second.
" Where am I?" Miroku asks.
" You blanked out before you reached me. Now let's get back to the others." Taisho tells him.
With the others
" You're back! What happened?" Sango wonders.
" I fought Zarcunai and Miroku blacked out before he found me." Taisho answers.
" What was that bright light?" Kagome interrogates.
" Zarcunai returning to Naraku. He could have slain me if he wanted." Taisho explained.
" Lucky huh. He could have killed you." Sango repeated.
" Yes, I didn't stand a chance." Taisho says fighting not to smile.
Castle
" Naraku, a thousand pardons. He transformed. He could easily match even you in battle." Apologized Zarcunai.
" I highly doubt that." Naraku spat at his groveling incarnation.
' This Taisho might be a bit more of a problem than first thought.'
~_~_~_~_~_~
Hiei: Come out and I will be lenient.
Inu: Hope you liked. And if you know a good seeing eye dog he could use one.
Hiei: I'm not blind. ( walks right into brick wall )
Inu: ( laughing hard ) Love and peace! ~_^ ^_^
Hiei: Come out!
Inu: ( whispering ) I hope you enjoy it.
Hiei: I'm gonna get you for poking my eye.
Inu: ( thoughts ) good thing he's blind.\
Naraku's Newest Creation
Kagome stirs and sits up. Once again she wakes at sunrise.
' Early to bed, earlier to wake.' Kagome says mentally. She sits up. Shippo sleeping on the giant firecat. Sango on the left and Miroku on the right of them. Taisho is...nowhere to be found.
" Where did Taisho go?" Kagome ponders.
" I'm here." Taisho says from behind her. Taisho has his back against the wall with his eyes closed.
" Did you sleep like that?" Kagome asks curiously.
" Hai, I find this more comfortable than the floor. You'd be surprised." Answers Taisho standing up. " Do we need anything?"
" No."
" Then I'll be back in a while. I need some time to think." Taisho repliers over his shoulder walking out of the hut.
" He's mysterious." Kagome says under her breath.
Minutes later everyone wakes up at different times. The result: Another disappointed Miroku.
" How do you feel this morning?" Kagome asked everyone
" Refreshed." Sango says while she stretches out.
" Tired." Miroku added rubbing his eye. " I couldn't sleep. Something just didn't seem right. Like we were being watched."
" I agree. Last night I felt a odd aura too." Agrees Kagome.
" What do you think of it? Naraku? Or something else?" Sango interrogates.
Elsewhere
Sesshomaru walks in a deep train of thought.
' Even I do not know. I followed my brother's scent to that house and only to find three humans. What could have happened to Inuyasha? Could my brother be gone? Can it really be?' Sesshomaru muses.
" Where are you, Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asks outloud.
" Losing your touch?" a voice echoes around him.
" Who is there?" questions Sesshomaru.
" I am your brother, but where I am. That's a tough one." It answers.
" Show yourself if you are my brother." Sesshomaru demands.
" If I could I would. Just to see the look on your face when you see me."
" Show yourself, Inuyasha. I know your cockiness anywhere."
" Yet you know not my scent?" it messes with him.
" Inuyasha! Show yourself or I'll find you." Sesshomaru threatens aggravated.
" And I thought you the strategist. Look whose the brute now." The ominous voice rings
" You are just...." Sesshomaru stutters.
" You'll see me when you see me. But for now I'll keep my pacifistic streak." The voice vanishes.
" Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" Sesshomaru shouts and then sees what he's doing.
' How did this happen. My brother, the half-bread , frustrated me, Sesshomaru! Inuyasha has changed. He seems more mature. He bested me, made me look like a fool. What has changed?'
Back at the hut
Taisho walks into the hut with a satisfied look on his face.
" What?" Taisho asks seeing everyone glaring at him " Did I do something?"
" We want to know more about you. You seem different from usual people." Miroku states.
" What does that mean? You aren't exactly normal yourself." Motioning to the kazaana.
" Not that. Your aura is that of a demon yet you are human. Who are you?" Kagome asks.
This seems to anger and make Taisho nervous.
" That is no worry of yours. I don't tell my life story to anyone who asks!" Taisho shouts.
" That just makes it more suspicious." Sango informs him.
" Listen, I want to work off my debt to Inuyasha by bringing you all to him, but I will not stand being interrogated! If you don't trust me, fine! I'll leave; you can find Inuyasha on your own." Taisho shouts.
Everyone goes silent.
" We want to find Inuyasha, but we need to know who we're working with." Kagome states.
" I want to tell you, but I can't. In other words: The rose, despite its beauty , it has thorns. Let's leave it at that." Taisho negotiates.
" Soon you'll have to tell us." Miroku says.
" No, I won't." Taisho answers ' I'd have to show you.'
Castle
Naraku fingers his almost completed jewel shards.
" Inuyasha, Inuyasha. You went and got yourself killed. What should we do now? Your friends are defenseless. We'll have to take the shards now. Don't you agree?" Naraku says to someone over his shoulder.
" We should." Answers a deep voice.
" I must say. You seem much more obedient than Kagura and Kanna. Why should I just you when I couldn't trust them." Naraku asks.
" My claws cry for blood. I must feast before the night is over." The being replies.
" If you wish. I infer you'll come back with the rest of the jewel?" Naraku infers.
" Of course."
" Then leave."
In a swift movement the being vanishes behind Naraku.
' Let's see if you friends can fend for themselves, Inuyasha.'
At the hut
" This village is much like Kaede's." Sango says her opinion.
" Yes, they seem very kind. No one's come though, so they're not so neighborly." Miroku adds.
" It's unnerving, look." Sango points to the villagers.
" Their faces are expressionless." Sango and Miroku exchange worried glances " Is this the work of a demon?"
" Kagome!" Sango yells.
" What?" Kagome comes running out of the hut.
" What do you make of this?" Sango asks.
" I don't think this is good." Kagome answers.
" And it isn't." a deep voice says
" Who is there?" Miroku interrogated.
" I am Naraku's fifth incarnation, Zacunai." The voice replies.
" Where are you?" Miroku shouts.
" You will see." Zarcunai tells.
The sun sets behind them. Darkness befalls the village.
A figure stands in front of them. It's a black figure, that's practically all it is. In best terms: It's just a shadow. It has a head but no face. It has the shape of a very scrawny, skinny man. You can see his bone's impression on his skin, like a cadaver.
" I am Zarcunai, the demon of darkness." Comes from its faceless head.
" Look at that thing!" Sango exclaims.
" Another incarnation." Curses Miroku
" What do you want?" asks Kagome.
" Your Shikon Jewel shards now that your beloved Inuyasha is dead." Zarcunai says firmly.
" Inuyasha is not dead." Taisho replies just as firm stepping out of the hut.
" His scent has vanished. Inuyasha is no longer."
" Inuyasha's NOT DEAD!" yells Kagome angrily.
" Then what do you make of this." Zarcunai asks.
He summons a human from behind him. The villager comes forth with a sword in his hands.
" That's Tetsusaiga!" Kagome exclaims.
" Do you think Inuyasha would abandon his precious protector sword?" Zarcunai asks.
Kagome starts to cry.
" No! Inuyasha can't be dead!" Kagome cries.
" Yes, little miko. Inuyasha is dead." Zarcunai laughs.
Taisho puts a hand on Kagome's shoulder, eyes still fixed on Zarcunai.
" Kagome, don't believe him. You can't tell if he's lying or not since he has no expressions." Taisho comforts her.
" Sango, Miroku, take Kagome somewhere safe." Taisho orders.
" We can't leave you al.."
" Now! I can take him until one of you comes back." Taisho says.
" Right." They nod and grab Kagome " Come on."
Taisho turns completely to Zarcunai.
" Come on." Taisho puts one hand on his sword's sheath and his other on it's handle "Let's dance."
" You've grown more arrogant." Zarcunai growls.
" And you taller." Taisho replies.
" Last time you couldn't beat me. What makes it different now?"
" I'm more powerful. Besides, I want that sword back. This one's doesn't appeal much to the eye." Taisho answers.
Taisho draws his swords. The blade is blood-red. Near the tip there's a symbol that stands for ' slayer of dragons'. It vibrates and points its tip toward Zarcunai.
" Aww, it remembers you." Taisho laughs.
" How can that be?! It snapped it in two!" Zarcunai exclaims nervously.
" You cannot kill a phoenix. When its time comes it burns up and rises again from its ashes stronger and more powerful than ever before." Taisho explains.
" It does not matter. Your blood will stain my claws human." Zarcunai growls.
" You forget." Taisho grasps the handle of his sword with both hands. " I'm neither youkai nor human."
" You're right."
Then in unison they both say.
" Let's finish this dance."
In the woods
" We must help Taisho." Kagome declares.
" He told us to stay here." Shippo says from atop her head.
" One of you two go help him then." Kagome says to Miroku and Sango.
" I shall go." Miroku answers her. " Wish me luck Sango, darling."
" Nice try. Now go." Sango pushes him an opposing direction.
Miroku wanders.
' Where did the village go?'
Miroku covers his eyes from the blinding light that just flashed from a direction.
" Oh no!"
Miroku hurries to the village sight.
Miroku loses his breath at what he sees.
With his back facing him is Taisho. His sword glows red, like it's on fire. Two white wings protrude from Taisho's back. Taisho turns and faces Miroku. A horizontal stripe divides his face. The upper part of his face is red. A gold streak of hair goes down his hair. His eyes are a very deep blue.
" Miroku?!" Taisho says worriedly.
" Wh-what in Buddha's name are you?" Miroku asks very startled at Taisho's appearance.
" A deity, but" Taisho new features vanish. He walks up to Miroku and puts a hand on his hand. " it's best if you forgot."
Taisho hand pulsates and Miroku's eyes go blank for just a second.
" Where am I?" Miroku asks.
" You blanked out before you reached me. Now let's get back to the others." Taisho tells him.
With the others
" You're back! What happened?" Sango wonders.
" I fought Zarcunai and Miroku blacked out before he found me." Taisho answers.
" What was that bright light?" Kagome interrogates.
" Zarcunai returning to Naraku. He could have slain me if he wanted." Taisho explained.
" Lucky huh. He could have killed you." Sango repeated.
" Yes, I didn't stand a chance." Taisho says fighting not to smile.
Castle
" Naraku, a thousand pardons. He transformed. He could easily match even you in battle." Apologized Zarcunai.
" I highly doubt that." Naraku spat at his groveling incarnation.
' This Taisho might be a bit more of a problem than first thought.'
~_~_~_~_~_~
Hiei: Come out and I will be lenient.
Inu: Hope you liked. And if you know a good seeing eye dog he could use one.
Hiei: I'm not blind. ( walks right into brick wall )
Inu: ( laughing hard ) Love and peace! ~_^ ^_^
