Jakotsu-aniki: Not to fear! Read on for Sango's fate! *gives Jakotsu a chocolate Hiraikotsu*
Elyndewen Startree: [refer to jakotsu-aniki's comment and #3 on vorsith's] Sorry I'm feeling too lazy to type it out again. ^^; *hands Elyndewen a slice key lime pie with a cute Shippo drawing made of colored whipped cream on it*
pinkjingling & jammies2000: Thanx again! *hands them each a piece of chocolate fudge iced cake*
TO ALL: Just as a piece of trivia, the first reviewer
to give me the name of the two voice actors that are in both X-Men: Evolution
and InuYasha, plus the characters they do will have an end of chapter special
done just for them next time!
by ElysianKiss
Hurricane Part 1
Again by Lenny Kravitz
I've been searching for you
I heard a cry within my soul
I've never had a yearning quite like this before
Know that you are walking right through my door
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
A sacred gift of heaven
For better worse, wherever
And I would never let somebody break you down
Until you cried, never
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
At every time I've always known
That you where there, upon your throne
A lonely queen without her king
I longed for you, my love forever
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
All of my life
Where have you been
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
And if that day comes
I know we could win
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
I wonder if I'll ever see you again
I wonder if I'll ever see you again...
It was mid afternoon and Sesshomaru sat at a desk in the room he had been given. He had long since donned what were termed "normal" clothes in this time period. He currently wore a long sleeved, white dress shirt that had the top two buttons undone. Along with that, he wore a pair of loose black slacks and his long silver hair had been pulled back into a loose ponytail. The demon lord still managed to wear both the Tokijin and Tensaiga on his left hip. He was absently digging grooves into the polished desk with his sharp claws. His thoughts were turbulent and focused solely on the ebony skinned goddess that he had been enraptured by not so long ago. Her abduction, for he could never confirm that she had truly been killed, was upsetting to him.
Sesshomaru suddenly clenched his fist, his claws almost slicing through the desk from the movement. Chips of wood fell to the carpet as he stood and walked to the balcony. He remembered the first time he had seen Ororo. She and Kagome had focused their powers together against Naraku. Her silver hair had flown around her like a halo, her skin was exotically dark and made her all the more mysterious. Her eyes were a vivid blue and her voice was melodic to his ears. She held a majestic air about her that simply drew Sesshomaru to her. She was an angel, and he a demon. Complete opposites and yet, he wanted her more than anything.
They were both alike in their control over their emotions and their apparent loneliness. She was regal, powerful, and breathtakingly beautiful. She exuded confidence and control. She seemed almost untouchable. She would be the perfect Lady of the Western Lands. Her spirit and drive were also something the demon lord found quite attractive about the human female. For any other human, he would not have felt thus. However, Ororo was different. She was a mutant, therefore, more powerful and fitting to be his mate.
He was unsure what emotions he was feeling toward the wind rider, but he knew that it pained his heart when he thought of her possible demise. He yearned to hold her in his arms and feel her lips upon his own. His anger began to build as his thoughts continued to linger on her. He would make Apocalypse pay for taking her from him. With those closing vows of slow death, Sesshomaru cracked his knuckles and headed to the Danger Room. It was his turn to train the students and he had much anger and stress to work out. Woe to the poor mutants at the Xavier Institute.
IceMan stretched beside Rogue, Jubilee, Multiple and Nightcrawler. Shadowcat, Deluge, Cyclops, Berzerker, Magma and Jean were stretching as well. Even InuYasha, Wolverine, and Beast were present. The only one missing was the supposed leader of this training session, Sesshomaru. They had little time to wait as a stoic Sesshomaru stepped into the danger room, dressed in skin tight black spandex as were most of them, even InuYasha. And yet, Sesshomaru still insisted on wearing his swords on his hip, thus he had a red sash as an accessory on the spandex uniform. His fur boa had been left behind in his room for the moment. This being the first time Sesshomaru had ever worn anything besides a loose, long sleeved anything, the students were shocked to find that the powerful demon lord had only one arm.
Jubilee and Multiple whispered about it to Berzerker
and Magma. Sesshomaru frowned in their direction.
"Do not let this apparent
handicap fool you, humans," Sesshomaru spat, "I am still far more of a
match for any of you."
The kids ducked their heads sheepishly, having forgotten his excellent
hearing. They were rather embarrassed and were dreading what Sesshomaru
would make them do now. The demon lord wasted no time and voice activated
the simulation. He then activated his poison whip and joined in to
attack the students whenever there was a break from the mechanical attacks.
There were no chances for slip ups with Sesshomaru. If you weren't
careful, you would leave with a scathing mark from his whip. He was
kind enough to not infuse so much poison into it, but still. The
damned thing hurt!
IceMan dove and ducked beneath incoming projectiles and lasers, using his powers to freeze the offending machinery. His eyes were quick to look around and spot a shadow zooming in toward him. He turned and let the ice fly. Sesshomaru quickly dodged and smirked, nodding at him and moving onto the next victim. Jubilee and Magma were back to back, guarding each other while fighting off the machines. Sesshomaru nodded in approval, they were fighting intelligently, for now. His golden eyes drifted over to the similar strategy that InuYasha and Wolverine had adopted. He had to admit that Wolverine did indeed fight like a demon.
Jean and Cyclops worked together to take out many of the lasers. Deluge and Beast were paired together, Deluge's lightning and Beast's sharp blows taking out many a machine. Rogue and Shadowcat worked together to short circuit a lot of the machinery. Rogue had gently zapped some of Shadowcat's power and the two girls were phasing through everything like ghosts. Rogue finally ran out of Shadowcat's power and had to rely on her own physical strength. She was rolling and dodging and leaping out of range rapidly. Sesshomaru chose her to attack next. Rogue leapt out of the way of a powerful laser and turned only to see Sesshomaru closing in rapidly. Her eyes widened and she reacted before any logical thought made it to her brain. Her glove was off just as she finished her roll away from him and her hand came up, locking around Sesshomaru's bare wrist.
Sesshomaru cried out in surprise as did Rogue. All activity stopped as the demon lord fell to the ground unconscious. Rogue screamed in pain as she clutched at her head. The power from the demon lord was far too much for her, she was struggling with it. The rage, the emotions that were so carefully locked away, the burdens, it was all consuming her, smothering her in their own inescapable wrath.
Rogue's hair lengthened, her ears became pointed,
her nails became claws and her canines became fangs. Her eyes became
slitted and sharp, lined in lavender. Her forehead was adorned by
a navy crescent moon and her cheeks by dual lavender stripes. Her
eyes bled a deep crimson and her fangs lengthened even more. She
turned toward all the other students and roared, attacking them with demon
speed and agility that rightfully belonged to Sesshomaru.
"Shit!" InuYasha cursed
as he dodged Rogue's attack.
Deluge, aka Kagome, concentrated her power and shot a bolt of purifying
lightning at Rogue. The young woman screamed in pain as the demon
was purified from her. She fell unconscious instantly.
"Well, I think that's enough
training for today," Wolverine spoke up.
The younger students just nodded dumbly and quickly left.
"Oh, man. That was
intense!" IceMan breathed, leaning against the wall outside the Danger
Room.
"You got that right," Jubilee
replied, "But did you see the look on Sesshomaru's face when Rogue absorbed
him?"
"Priceless," Berzerker agreed.
"I never thought I'd see
that guy have any sort of expression on his face," Magma said, shaking
her head.
Rogue and Sesshomaru awoke roughly at the same time.
Sesshomaru growled and held his aching head. He glared at Rogue from
the corner of his eye and Rogue glared right back.
"It wasn't my fault," she
said, "You attacked me."
"Fair enough," Sesshomaru
replied, "Consider yourself fortunate. Few humans are privileged
enough to have been gifted with demon power once, let alone twice."
"I dunno if I'd consider
myself fortunate," Rogue grumbled, "This is more a curse than anything."
"It is a curse, if you allow
it to be," Sesshomaru responded, wisely.
Rogue looked at him then, curiously. Was Sesshomaru actually
being nice?
"Hey. Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru raised a brow at her.
"You...love Storm don't
you?" Rogue asked, quietly.
Sesshomaru felt a pang in his heart, but his stoic mask held perfectly.
However, Rogue could tell. She could see through his mask because
she knew him from the inside out now. She nodded.
"I know you believe she's
alive. I believe she is too. We'll get her back and we'll win
against Apocalypse," Rogue stated.
Sesshomaru smirked lightly.
"It seems that you have
inadvertently become what you humans call a friend," Sesshomaru stated
before leaving the medical bay.
Rogue sat on the bed, her mouth agape.
Wolverine passed by Sesshomaru and looked in to see
Rogue in a state of shock.
"You all right, kid?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah," Rogue
replied, shaking herself out of it.
"So...going for the long
haired look again?" Logan teased, flicking a long lock of Rogue's hair.
The young teen blushed and blew a long bang out of her face.
"At least this time I don't
have to shave my legs again," she said, referring to the incident with
Sabertooth.
Logan laughed heartily.
"Come on, dinner is ready.
You don't want InuYasha to eat it all, right?"
Rogue laughed a bit as Logan helped her to stand. She ended up
losing her balance and falling against him. Her face flushed red
and she looked up at him.
There was something in his eyes that she couldn't quite place, but it made her yearn for the ability to be touched. Logan sighed and pressed his forehead to hers, her bangs separating them enough to stop any absorption. His muscled arms held her close to him and Rogue merely closes her eyes and relished the embrace. It surprised her that anyone would be willing to be so close to her. But Logan was different, he wasn't afraid. And Rogue needed that.
Kagome sat next to InuYasha at the table when the
doorbell rang. She excused herself and got the door, to see a tall
man with gray hair and an eye patch. He wore military style clothing
and he looked down at her imposingly.
"Can I help you?" Kagome
asked.
"The name's Nick Fury.
I'm here to see Wolverine," he spoke.
The aforementioned mutant came up behind Kagome.
"Fury," Wolverine growled
in acknowledgment, "What brings you here?"
"I'm afraid I have some
bad news," the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent replied with a grim look upon his face.
Wolverine nods and he and Fury pass by a confused Kagome. She
and the others follow the two men to the main computer as Fury commands
Beast to bring up images of the domes.
~*/|\*~
Miroku found himself rudely awakened. A very
irate wolf demon held him by the collar of his robes. Green eyes
pierced into his violet, demanding to be answered.
"Where's Kagome?!
And Inu-korro?!" Kouga demanded, "I haven't picked up either of their scents
for many moon cycles. Talk!"
Kagura was inside the hut, caring for Sango when she heard Kouga's
voice. It was only a matter of time before he picked up her scent
and she shuddered at the thought. She was but a human now, he could
easily kill her. She dabbed Sango's forehead with a damp cloth as
the girl continued the struggle to hang onto life.
"Kagome and InuYasha along
with Sesshomaru have gone to the future to fight a great evil, Kouga,"
Miroku explained calmly, "We have no idea when they will return."
Kouga growled as Miroku explained everything surrounding Kagome, InuYasha,
and Sesshomaru's disappearance.
"You stink of Naraku," Kouga
insulted, "Were you stupid enough to try to fight him on your own?"
"We had no choice, he targeted
us while we were most vulnerable."
"Well, I suppose I can't
let Kagome's friends die. She obviously wants me to protect you for
her," Kouga said arrogantly, inwardly thinking of the prize he might receive
from Kagome when she returned to find he had helped her friends.
"Obviously," Miroku replied,
sarcastically.
"I smell blood. The
other woman, what happened to her?"
"Sango was struck down by
Naraku," Miroku replied, "She's in the hut."
Miroku quickly realized his mistake as Kouga entered
the hut. A bellow of rage echoed through the village as his emerald
eyes beheld Kagura.
"You! You, bitch!"
Kouga yelled, lunging for her.
Miroku restrained Kouga with his staff.
"No! Kagome purified
Kagura and turned her human! She's no longer a threat!" Sango
said, weakly.
Kouga growled, tensely. His eyes glared with hatred at Kagura
who merely looked to the ground.
"Let him go, Miroku," she
whispered, "I deserve to die for what I did to his kin."
Miroku looked from Kagura to the confused Kouga and let him go.
Kouga snarled in disbelief after a few seconds.
"No way! I don't believe
your little innocent act for one second! You're a conniving bitch
and you'll die for your crimes!" he said, lunging at her with his fist
raised.
Kagura closed her eyes and waited for the blow. When it didn't
come, she opened her eyes to see Kouga's fist a mere inch away from her
face. His visage held barely restrained rage and he was heaving hard.
"Stop acting like some submissive
human, Kagura! It won't save you!"
"I don't expect it to.
I'm ready to forfeit my life for the wrongs I've done," she replied, looking
him in the eyes.
Kouga could sense nothing but honesty in her gaze. He lowered
his fist and growled in frustration, leaving the hut. Miroku quickly
followed. Shippo had woken up to all the commotion and quickly followed
them both outside.
Kagura turned back to Sango.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm doing fine," Sango
lied, her eyes betraying her fatigue.
"Rest, Sango," Kagura said,
continuing to wipe the sweat from the other girl's brow.
Outside, Shippo watched as Miroku and Kouga spoke of what had occurred
with Kagura in great detail. Kouga frowned and clenched his fists.
It seemed as if his revenge on Kagura would no longer do. She had
a new life now, a clean slate. No matter, he could still take his
revenge on Naraku.
"Kouga," Shippo asked.
"Yeah, kid?"
"S-Sango is dying...I know
there's a spell or ritual that can save her...but I'm too young to do it."
"You want me to...?" Kouga
started in shock.
It was then that Ginta and Hakkaku made their presence's known.
"It would be my honor to
help our sister's sister," Ginta said.
"Ginta, think carefully
about what you are doing," Kouga growled lightly.
"Sister Kagome would be
saddened if this woman were to die. I know she cares for her as her
sister," Hakkaku replied instead.
"Yes. So I must help
her so that Kagome will not have reason to mourn," Ginta added.
"Fine. Do what you
want," Kouga replied.
Ginta gulped and walked into the hut of the demon
exterminator. Sango tensed when she saw the unknown demon enter the
hut. Kagura stayed by her side, protectively.
"I came to help you," Ginta
said, "You are sister Kagome's sister. I would be honored if you
would let me help you."
"How can you help?" Sango
asked warily.
"It is a ritual that is
not often performed between demon and human, but it does work. It
might be painful for you, however, but it will let you live."
"What do I have to do?"
she asked with distrust.
"I would make you my blood
sister. By sharing my blood with you, you would pick up my demon
healing ability and become stronger."
"No," Sango replied, firmly,
"I will not have the blood of a demon running through my veins."
Ginta looked down at the floor of the hut.
"Please. I know it
would pain sister Kagome if you were to die. I just want to help.
Would it really be so bad? You would become stronger to fight Naraku
better."
Kagura looked to Sango.
"I know you hate demons,
Sango. But aren't InuYasha and Shippo demons? Wasn't I a demon?
Give him a chance to help you. I know of this ritual, there would
be no visible changes to you at all. It requires very little blood,"
Kagura said.
Sango clenched her fists weakly. She could
already feel her remaining strength slipping. How could she give
up when there was a way for her to remain alive? Could she turn her
back on everything her father had taught her, just to live? Would
he disapprove of her?
"Sango...," Miroku said
from the doorway, looking at her longingly.
She closed her eyes. Could she give up her budding feeling for
the monk and die simply because her pride would not allow it? It
was not the time to be selfish. But what was the proper choice?
She opened her eyes once more to stare at the wall in the hut. Everyone,
save Kaede who had left earlier that morning to another village, were crowded
into the small hut. They all waited for her decision.
If she took this chance, she would gain power.
She could be of greater help in fighting Naraku. Without her, their
numbers would be down by one. And sometimes, one could be the key
in a battle. Her father had taught her that. What would her
father do in this situation? No. Better not to think of father,
he would adamantly refuse she was sure. But what of Kohaku?
She had to avenge him, had to avenge her family. Sango looked at
Ginta straight in the eyes.
"Do it," she commanded,
grimly.
Ginta nodded and pierced his wrist with his fangs. He gave Sango
an apologetic look before he did the same to her. Sango winced as
his fangs broke skin. She felt light headed as she lost even more
blood. But that was soon the last thing on her mind. Fires
of hell burned through her wrist, sliding up her veins and arteries and
freezing her heart in incredible pain. She couldn't even breath to
expel the scream that wanted to tear from her throat. Ginta held
her wrist to his firmly, his own eyes tightly shut to keep from seeing
her pain.
Kouga held Miroku back as Kagura held Shippo.
"What's he doing to her?!
Why is she in pain?!" Miroku demanded.
"Calm down, monk.
She'll be fine. The pain is only temporary, but if she continues
to fight the demon blood...," Kouga trailed off.
"Sango!" Miroku called to
her desperately, "Sango, please! Don't fight it! SANGO!"
At last a scream of incredible torture issued from Sango's lips as
her eyes flew open.
"Once a stranger, now my
sister. I seal this pact with my blood and my heart," Ginta recited,
"Sango, you must repeat it."
Sango struggled to breath. She gasped in pain, tears falling
from her eyes as the fire seemed to consume her very being. Yet she
heard Ginta and she opened her lips to say something, anything.
"Sango!" Miroku called.
"O-Once a stranger...,"
Sango began, "No-now my brother. I seal this pact...with my blood...."
She stopped. Do she really mean this with her heart? He
was doing all he could to save her...could she accept him as a brother?
Can she sincerely mean this? Yes, she could, she realized.
"...and my heart," she ended,
sincerely.
The pain instantly went away with her acceptance
of him. Her wound and his healed instantly. Ginta smiled and
kissed her brow.
"Sister Sango, sleep well."
Sango smiled and drifted into unconsciousness. She could feel
a strange sort of warmth through her, weaving the broken skin into perfection,
strengthening her muscles, feeding her newfound power. The last thing
she was aware of was Miroku kneeling beside her and taking her hand in
his.
Miroku turned to Kouga.
"What will this do to her?"
"She will be stronger and
faster, but no where near demon power. Her wounds will also heal
quickly. There will not be any demon traits," he replied, "She is
now a member of my tribe by blood. It binds her to aid us when we
are in need and we to her when she is in need. My tribe and I will
help you against Naraku."
"We thank you," Miroku said,
in relief.
Shippo cuddled up next to Sango whispered a thank you to Ginta and
Kouga. Kouga nodded and Ginta smiled. Hakkaku sat down next
to Ginta. Both wolves warily regarded Kagura, who resumed wiping
Sango's forehead and face.