I'm back!!!
And I have a good reason. Final exams teachers hate me for some reason band practice for this big BIG thing we did last weekend big BIG thing we did last weekend = NO TIME FOR ANYTHING. It's all over now. I'm back and I will update more regularly, now. You have my assurances.
Umm...I had something to put here, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. Oh, now I remember. Don't expect any cheeriness in the following chapters. Things, if that's possible, just go from bad (last chapter) to worse (this chapter). Sustain yourself with the knowledge that I hate and despise stories that end on a bad note.
Reviews!!! But first a note to all:
Many of you expressed the opinion that something would happen...that Inuyasha or someone would burst in and save her, or she would be pulled out of that situation somehow. I ask you: How would that happen? Just because I leave a cliffhanger doesn't mean it always has to fall to the side of good. Sometimes, people fall OFF of cliffs.
One last thing: Since FF.Net refuses to acknowledge the presence of asterisks, to separate subjects in my review responses, I will instead put a (Z). So if you see (Z), that means the same thing as an asterisk would have.
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Kai19: One can imagine WHY Kagome would be devastated...think about it for a second. (Z) His greatest fear is Kagome?? Umm...I'm not saying anything, but I'm interested to know how you got to that conclusion. (Z) If you were in Tobias's shoes, wouldn't YOU take any chance you could get to harm the General? I know I would...
Valdimarian: So have I, but it really doesn't matter right now. (Z) I don't understand...the Kaze no Kizu is using a demon's aura against him. (Z) So how can he do it without a demon's aura??? (Z) Yeah. A bit of a bad pun. (Z) A third option, you say? Time changes?! (clutches head) NOOOOOO...you know how much I hate time-altering storylines.
slvrstarlight: You know, it's things like that that make me hesitate to finish. I have a feeling that as soon as I type the words "The End", a katana will sink into my skull. (Z) Sorry about not updating...the explanation's up top. (Z) He will, will he? (grins)
Kegger007: The General is a cold, calculating son of a bitch. Would you rather I had a NICE villain? (Z) The General making Kagome pregnant? Nah, couldn't be. After all the times she slept with Inuyasha, is there any chance she ISN'T pregnant by him? (Z) Sesshomaru grabbing the General's sword? Maaaybe...not. (Z) Thanks. I need all the luck I can get.
RyoSanada1717: How will he save her, again? (Z) What price?! I have no money! I'm a starving student!
Ryguy5387: You're one of the few people who realized there's really no way out of that situation. (Z) Well, don't blame ME, blame the GENERAL. It's his fault. I didn't do it! (Z) Why...thank you.
Silver Warrior: He...might. That's all I'll say. He might die.
Mitsuki-kun: How will Inuyasha get there? He's hundreds of miles away! (Z) Email you descriptions? Why, I'll do that very thing! (Z) I noticed. Like I said, after I'm done I intend to go back and rewrite the entire thing, changing things where they so obviously suck. (Z) A prophecy is a prediction of the future, not a broadcast of fear. And maybe she IS crazy. Who's to say? (Z) Kagome didn't look around because she admired the view, you know. There's a method to her madness. (Z) That's the only real display of emotion he ever gives.
KillaBri: You pity him?! Well...I can see why someone would have that reaction... (Z) He requested an audience, but he never said he WOULDN'T do anything else... (Z) Think about it for a minute. Is Tobias really thinking logically at this point? Would you be? Revenge is all that concerns him.
japanime-01: It might happen. Yeah, that might happen too. Oh, that just might happen. Notice a pattern here? (Z) His name...?
Celestra: Evil?! EEEEEEEEEEVIL!!! (Inside joke.) (Z) PEACHES?! She knows my weakness! (Z) Was it really much of a decision? The General can beat Tobias on his own... (Z) She shows up again, and exhibits even more quirkiness. (Z) I don't. I hate time-changing plotlines.
Mechant Guy: Is there really anything anyone can do to prevent it, right about now?
kohmaru (just in case you get to here, this is the review response from chapter 24): The idea was that to most people, it would be gibberish; but to a select few (like you) it would mean something. The actual meaning of the words has no effect on the spell or the story as a whole. It just sounded better than "soigseuldsiufys" would have, for example.
Chi Master: You misunderstand. The summoning thing that the Seer mentioned and the resurrection of Maria are two entirely different things...oops, I say too much.
Jeanne-chan56: I would. (ducks) (Z) NO! POINTY DOOM! (Z) Too many fanfictions where that happens? I've never seen one... (Z) Join you? DON'T MIND IF I DO!!!
Queen of Roses: Stupid FF.Net's "Quick Update" won't recognize asterisks. Which sucks the big time. (Z) No, I get the joke. (Did she buy it?)
Rushyuo: They're way the hell far away. What can they do?
lordkagome: This is as quickly as I can.
hersheykiss1012: I know. It makes me hesitate to finish...ALMOST. I like suspense. I use it all the time. OR DO I?? Dum dum dum...
Kodachi Claws: They're anime characters! They can stand sexual exhaustion that would kill us mortals. (Z) I hate stories with crappy endings. Just think of that. (Z) You're not asking me to tell you? Fantastic. Everyone ALWAYS asks.
Sieg1308: Will try harder in the future.
The Foxen: You'll never get me! (Barricades self into bunker) You ARE good at annoying people, I'll say that much. But thanks for finally switching from Gray to Gary.
Lunar InuYasha: It'll come soon enough. In about half a page, I'd say.
megu-sama: Will do.
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S-S-S-S-STORY TIME!!!
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Chapter 59: Dark Times
The Seer blinked.
She arose from her meditation seat and cocked her head, as if thinking about something. She walked out the door, muttering to herself.
Yumi was instantly at the doorframe. "Is something wrong, Milady?"
"Yeah, actually..." The Seer frowned. "It's him."
"Him...who?"
"You know, the General him. That muscle-guy with the sword who stopped by last night and all," said the Seer. She sounded slightly upset about something.
"What about him?" Yumi asked, a little confused.
"Yumi, I've just Seen, and it isn't good. That mean ol' guy has just committed one of the blackest of black acts." She glanced upward into Yumi's eyes. "He defiled a miko."
Yumi gasped in horror and took a step back. "You mean...he...Kagome??" The Seer nodded gravely. Yumi collapsed backwards into her chair in despair.
"Yeah, the guy's a jerk. Still, it was nice to see him all broken up about his prophecy when he left. I think I put a scare into him."
"I never asked..." murmured Yumi. "What did you tell him?"
"I told what I Saw. He was going to lose, and big time, at the hands of his greatest fear." The Seer shrugged. "He didn't seem to happy to hear that, not at all. I don't think he's ever considered the possibility that he COULD be defeated, before."
"Wait..." Yumi's brow wrinkled. "Didn't you tell Kagome...that they were all going to die?"
"Yep. Which confused me for a while, too." The Seer walked over and picked up a voodoo doll, stared at it for a second, then tossed it over her shoulder. "Until I realized the truth: Both of those prophecies are true."
Yumi thought about this for a second.
"How?" she finally said.
"Oh, how am I supposed to know?" said the Seer in frustration, throwing her arms up in the air. "I may have the Sight, but I don't know everything. Still," she added in a calmer voice, "I'm not too worried about the whole thing. That rotten fellow's gonna do some damage, but I know it'll all work out in the end. That much I do know. How it's gonna work is as yet a mystery."
"I'm glad..." mumbled Yumi. "He defiled Kagome...how could he? How could he?? Didn't Tobias or her mate do anything to stop him?"
"They tried..." said the Seer absentmindedly. She was now examining a snow globe. "But he stomped all over them. Not only is the guy a cold-hearted bastard, he's also the toughest in the land. A bad combination for everyone who's just trying to scrape through life." She tossed aside the globe carelessly, but not so carelessly that it didn't land on something soft.
"I'm just...a little shocked by the whole thing," Yumi admitted. "I didn't know anyone could be that evil."
The Seer snorted. "Never underestimate just how evil humans can be, Yumi." She glanced around, but was out of odd objects to examine. "Oh, well," she said in a cheerier voice. "No sense getting all worked up about it. Kagome'll be fine eventually, and moping about won't solve a thing." And with that, she walked right back into her room and shut the door.
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The General stood up. He inhaled deeply, then let out a long sigh.
"I needed that," he said quietly. Walking over to a closet, he opened the door to reveal his clothes and armor. He reached for them, then paused.
"Oh, yes..." The General walked over and picked up his sword, which was in a stand on the wall. With four deft motions, he cut the bonds holding Kagome.
She curled up into a ball and tried to hide from him, tears of shame and anger coursing down her face. He paid her no attention as he got dressed.
Kagome's fists clenched as she silently raged against the General. She hadn't thought it was possible, but he made it worse beyond the entire premise. If he had slapped her, struck her, pummeled her into submission, made it hurt, that would be one thing...
...but he hadn't. The bastard had been gentle. And no matter how she tried to deny it, or ignore it...she had enjoyed it. She hated it, she hated him, she screamed and shouted and tried to get away; but her body betrayed her over and over again. Kagome sniffled as she tried to blot it from her mind.
Her own body had betrayed her, defying her efforts to not think about it, to ignore it, to not feel it. And the General knew. And in her opinion, that was the worst thing he could have done.
The General was dressed now. He picked up Kagome's bundle of clothes and laid them on the bed. In an infuriating show of modesty, he turned around and did not look while she dressed. As soon as her clothes were back on her, he turned back to her.
"Come," he said in his regular monotone. He walked to a heavy iron door and, straining, forced it open.
As soon as he took a step outside of the room...he seemed to change. His physical appearance was not altered a bit; but he stood up just a little straighter, his muscles seemed to bulge, he blinked and held his head high.
"Yes..." he muttered. "I despise that room. I do not feel safe until my power returns to me." Kagome walked unsteadily out of the room. The General snapped his fingers, and instantly a demon was at his side.
"Yes, General?" rasped the demon.
"Make sure she does not go anywhere. I must retrieve something before I return her." The General began walking down the corridor. The demon glanced in Kagome's direction.
He looked into her eyes, and nearly recoiled at what he saw. Grief, pain, anger, beyond anything he had ever seen before. Simply at his look, Kagome turned away and sank to the ground, back against the wall. It turned away, not at all sure it liked what it saw.
"Sir?" called the demon, uncertainly.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" said the General, not stopping.
"Permission to speak freely, sir," said the demon quickly.
"Granted. What is it?"
"What did you do to her?" it blurted. The General stopped walking, and the demon knew at once that he had made a mistake. The General slowly turned around and stared down the demon.
"That is none of your concern, Lieutenant," he said, with a hint of anger in his voice. "I did as I must. That is all you need to know."
"Yes...sir." The demon glanced in Kagome's direction one more time, but other than that, stood at attention and acted as if she were not there.
A minute or so later, the General came walking back with a small pouch in his hands. The demon scampered away as soon as he saw the General approach. Kagome had not moved from the wall she was sitting against.
The General opened the pouch and took out a pinch of sparkling dust. He cast it into the air, and it landed on Kagome. She started coughing, waving her hands in front of her face to get it away from her.
"What is that?" she finally choked out.
"This is something that is extremely useful if you are being pursued by a creature that tracks with scent," said the General. "One sprinkling of it eliminates any scent on a creature for several hours. It will come back, eventually, you produce scent naturally; but this will at least keep Inuyasha from knowing of this incident."
The General glanced at Kagome. "Why, you may ask, am I doing this? Because I would prefer it if Inuyasha did not know of our...rendezvous." ...Yet, he thought silently. "I therefore leave it to you, Kagome, to decide whether or not you should tell him of this." He tucked the pouch into his pocket and moved toward her, but paused.
"But before you make that decision...be aware of Inuyasha's likely reaction, were he to find out." Kagome didn't need the General to tell her what would happen. She knew from the second he said it.
He would go berserk. He would rush off to fight the General on his own, and he would quite likely die in the process. And Inuyasha's death was something Kagome just could not accept.
The General took Kagome's hand, and they both started to glow blue.
"I mentioned that the boy would kill Maria, were she to be raised..." said the General quietly as the effect was beginning. "I have no doubt in my mind that Inuyasha would do the same, given half the chance." They vanished.
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Sesshomaru stood in his war room, leaning over the table to get a better view of the large map he was poring over. He was muttering to himself.
Jaken hobbled to the door, clutching his staff. "Master Sesshomaru, sir. The general is here to see you."
"The General!" Sesshomaru recoiled as if he'd been punched. He took a step back, and his claws instinctively began to drip with poison. The now terrified demon took several steps back.
"Y-yes, sir...Ge-General Hanaki, at your request...please don't kill me..." Sesshomaru relaxed.
"Bring him in." The toad scuttled away; moments later, another demon walked in. But they were very different. This new demon held himself high, about a foot taller than Sesshomaru. In a stark contrast to Sesshomaru's almost slim form, he was huge, bulging with muscle. His mane and large fangs and paws marked him as a lion demon, and he was in full battle dress, with medals of stone and wood hanging from his kimono.
"Yes, my lord?" he growled.
"General Hanaki." Sesshomaru folded the map he was reading and stood up fully. "I have called you here to discuss some matters of great importance. Our coming war with the forces of the General cannot be a failure. The man is far too powerful to be allowed to roam unchecked."
"I understand, my lord," rumbled Hanaki. "Failure is not an option. I will carry out your orders."
"That is the main reason I called you, actually..." said Sesshomaru slowly. "Our battle will not be terribly difficult to win, given adequate land and weather conditions." He looked out a large window. "Our forces outnumber his almost five to one. The most brilliant military strategist would be hard-pressed to come up with tactics that will win an open conflict of those proportions."
"Yes, my lord..." growled Hanaki, a little puzzled as to what Sesshomaru was leading up to.
"I have maintained these lands for many years, and you have served at my side for nearly all of them. You are the finest military leader I have ever met, and you have not failed me once since you assumed command of your first campaign."
"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru," said Hanaki. He went to one knee.
"It is because of this that the following events will fall in place as they shall." Sesshomaru turned around and looked straight into Hanaki's eyes. "General Hanaki, I hereby promote you to commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Western Lands."
Hanaki's eyes opened wide; he lurched backwards in shock. "But..." he said, grasping for words, "my lord...such an honor...that is your rank!"
"I know." Sesshomaru walked slowly over to the table. He picked up a large golden medal, went over to Hanaki, and pinned it on his kimono.
"I must do this, Hanaki," he said quietly. "I must leave the Western Lands." Hanaki's eyes opened still wider in shock. "I have no choice. As long as I remain here, I leave the entire territory hopelessly vulnerable to attack. You must stay and coordinate the offensive...I have things to do." And without another word, Sesshomaru swept past Hanaki and out the door.
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The General reappeared in the forest, with Kagome at his side. As soon as he let go of her, she broke away from him, turning from him, not wanting to see him. The General looked to the treetops, apparently ignoring Kagome.
"I know you can hear me, Inuyasha," he said. He spoke in his normal voice, but from the first word a great roar arose from the distant forest. The General was unperturbed. "Kagome is here. By the time you get to her, however, I will not be here." As he spoke, he began to glow blue again.
There was a great crashing in the underbrush. Leaves and branches went flying into the air as a great disturbance tore up the forest in front of them. The General vanished.
A tenth of a second later, Inuyasha burst in through the trees and immediately rushed to Kagome. He hugged her tightly to him; but to his great surprise, she shrieked and wriggled free.
"It's not you..." she stuttered, backing away, "it's just...I need some time alone." She ran off.
Inuyasha was still standing in the same place, completely thrown by this new attitude. He decided that whatever it was, he sure as hell didn't like it. What did that fucking bastard do to her?? he thought grimly. He leaped into the air and ran in pursuit. He closed in on Kagome very quickly...
"SIT!" Cursing, Inuyasha plummeted into the hard forest floor as Kagome ran back to camp. Scrabbling at the earth in an attempt to get up again, Inuyasha unconsciously growled as possible scenarios ran through his head of what the General had done.
Kagome ran as fast as she could, hating herself for everything she had done, thinking desperately. I can't tell Inuyasha...I can't...but I need to tell someone. Someone who will understand...
Kagome burst through the trees into camp, looking quite disheveled. Tobias was leaning against a tree, smoking a cigarette. Miroku was pacing, and Sango was staring into the embers of the burned-out fire. All three looked in Kagome's direction as she rushed in.
"Tobias," she said, panting. "I need to talk to you, in private." Everyone looked at Kagome questioningly, but Tobias shrugged very slightly and gestured for Kagome to come with him.
About two seconds later, Inuyasha ran into camp.
"Okay, spit it out, Kagome. What the fuck is going on here? Why are you going off alone with him?" he spat savagely, pointing at Tobias. He made a move to come closer.
"SIT!!!" Inuyasha slammed back into the floor, so hard he left an Inuyasha-shaped crater. He groaned in frustration as Kagome walked out of camp with Tobias.
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Tobias found a clearing and walked Kagome into the middle of it. He turned to her, with a very puzzled look on his face.
"What happened back there, Kagome? Why are you sitting Inuyasha? Usually he comforts you when things are bad..."
Kagome looked away. "I know. It's nothing he did. It's just..." She gestured helplessly as she tried to convey her thoughts. "The General took me away, you know that. He talked to me about a few things...what he really wanted to use the Jewel for...and then..."
"Then what? What did he do?" Tobias was becoming increasingly agitated.
"He...oh gods, Tobias...he..." Kagome started to cry weakly. "He...took me..." She reflexively crossed her palm between her legs as the memory raced through her. Comprehension dawned, agonizingly slowly, in Tobias's mind. His eyes widened, and he took a slight step back.
"You mean...?" he whispered. She nodded faintly. "No..." Tobias began to shake.
"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" Tobias roared, a sound of pain and anguish that echoed through the forest like the eruption of a great volcano. His sword blazed with a sudden fire, and flames roared up around him, burning with terrible intensity. The blast of heat threw Kagome off-balance, and she landed on her back in front of him.
As quickly as the fire had come, it was gone. Tobias slumped forward onto his knees, and his head fell. "Go, Kagome," he muttered. Kagome sniffled, raising herself onto her elbows. "Just...go. Go back to Inuyasha."
"Tobias...?" Kagome started to speak, but Tobias cut her off.
"Just go! ... I can't help you, Kagome..." He drew in a great shuddering breath. "Go to Inuyasha. He can help you. All I can do...all I can do is bring pain. Go...leave me."
Kagome stood up and backed slowly away from Tobias's slumping form. "Just go," she heard him whisper. She turned and left.
Tobias did not move from his posture. All I can do is bring her pain...that's all I've ever been able to do... His eyes grew wet with unshed tears. It's my fault she was raped, it's my fault Inuyasha was hurt, it's my fault all of this happened in the first place...
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The General came into the alchemy, where the witch was mixing out some roots for a potion. He reached into a pocket of his clothes.
"You said you needed these," he said, taking out the small bag of Shikon shards and throwing them carelessly on the table. Without another word he walked out.
The General walked into his private room. He closed the door and locked it.
I must focus my power; that is what the witch said. The General unsheathed his sword. I must let my power flow through me...I must visualize what it is I wish. His sword began to glow blue, dimly.
I must concentrate. The temperature in the room began to fall. Small ice crystals began to form on the walls and ceiling. The General did not appear to notice. I must concentrate! he thought again, more fiercely. His sword glowed brighter. Ice began to creep over the table and chairs.
I must focus... The temperature was sub-Arctic, now. Sheets of glittering ice rushed over every surface, covering everything with a shining coat of blue. The entire room was iced over.
I MUST CONCENTRATE! All the ice leaped from the room and to the sword's tip. A glowing point of energy, shining brightly, appeared there. The General brushed aside the clothes covering his missing right arm, to reveal the hole therein. Quick as a flash, he moved the tip of his sword to the stump.
It flashed even brighter than before, if that was possible, and stayed in the center of his wound. The General's eyes opened wide with pain. The witch never said it would hurt so much... He grimaced in pain, and bent over.
A snarl of pain escaped his lips, and he fell to his knees, clutching at the wound in his shoulder. The General never felt the cold, due to his power. But this...this was something entirely strange. It was as if his missing arm were there, he felt it, he felt a sensation so bitterly cold it burned him, all down the length of his nonexistent arm. The pain increased even further, and the energy glowed even brighter.
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The witch, measuring out strange substances in the other room, heard a roar of agony coming from the General's room.
"I knew he'd do just as he was told..." she cackled. "Amazingly brilliant in some ways, completely stupid in others." She leaped from the table and snatched up the bag of Shikon shards.
"I won't be seeing you again, General," she laughed, as she vanished.
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Tobias lay awake, as he did nearly every night. He grumbled, then got up from his sleeping bag and sat down on a log in the middle of the camp.
He utterly could not – could not – forgive himself for what he had allowed to happen to Kagome. It's my fault, he thought slowly. All of it...all their pain...it's my fault.
(Flashback)
The General stood in the courtyard outside of a once-proud castle, which was now utterly destroyed by furious battle. He was bleeding heavily and was covered in burns, but he was nothing next to the boy next to him. Tobias lay face-up in the scorched grass. He was covered in blood. He still clutched his sword tightly in one hand, but could barely muster the strength to draw breath. The General leaned upon his sword, which glittered blue in the fading daylight.
"You're pathetic, boy," he muttered in his pronounced British accent. There was, for once, emotion in his words. "You got lucky today, but you know I'll always be the stronger one." He shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not gonna kill you now, boy. I want you to suffer." He spat at Tobias. "When I find you again, you just remember that I'm gonna kill you in as slowly and painfully a way as I can think of." Tobias remained silent. He didn't have the energy to speak.
"All those years, in your miserable father's court, waiting for the old fool to die so I could take over...I've had plenty of time to think of ways to kill you. Don't you worry." He painfully stood up, and began limping away. "Remember that, boy," he called out as he slowly walked away.
(End flashback)
Tobias reflected on this memory. 'As slowly and painfully a way as I can think of', his brain screamed over and over again.
"As slowly and painfully a way as I can think of," he muttered. "I'm not going to wait around for that." Tobias pulled his sword out of its scabbard and laid it on the ground. He reached into his pack and slowly drew out a pistol.
(Flashback)
"...if I don't have my sword on me, I'm powerless. The strength, the speed, the healing, gone. I become a regular human."
(End flashback)
He lifted the gun to his head. He pulled the hammer back with a loud click. "I'm sorry, Father," he whispered. "I'm sorry...Marcus."
Kagome started at the noise. Despite everything, she had finally managed to fall asleep in Inuyasha's arms. At first she had resisted; Inuyasha's touch brought up horrible memories of the General; but there was one thing that had finally won her over. One thing that Inuyasha had that the General did not have, that he could not have.
Love.
Inuyasha loved her more than anything else on the planet. When the General touched her, it was utterly emotionless; cold, without any feeling to it. He saw her as a useful instrument, there only to serve a practical purpose: the fulfillment of the General's sexual tension.
Inuyasha touched her because he loved her, because he wanted to hold her and protect her, because he wanted to bring her pleasure, because he wanted her to love him. Little by little, Kagome's resistance ebbed, as she drew herself into Inuyasha's embrace. He loved her, and that was all there was to it.
A click brought her out of her thoughts. Tobias was sitting on a log, holding something to his head. The darkness made it impossible to tell what it was, but then the moonlight glinted off of it. She gasped. It was a gun!
"TOBIAS!!" she shrieked.
BANG!
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...Well. That's not good. Review.