Disclaimers: I'm going to set a trap and nab me a hunky inu taiyoukai. And there ain't no one to stop me… at least, I hope not!
Thank you:
~ *squeak* : In this fic, Kagura and Kouga do not meet as they did in the manga/anime. This is an AU fic so I'll be manipulating the sequences and events according to my own ideas. I'm just borrowing certain aspects of it when I think it works [or if I'm just lazy].
~ BluePhoenix4: My chapters are around 2000 words long on average, sometimes more depending on where it can stop neatly. A lot of fics out there have very short chapters when compared to mine. Besides, it can be quite tiring to read overly long chapters [or have no chaptering at all – recalls the Discworld series].
~ Sesshys Hime: Thanks for your compliments! I just hope to keep the story going without too much trouble. Just wish my muse would get in line and stop being so hard to find. I hope the Flashback scenes will give you a better idea of what has happened.
~ MelloJen85: Thanks for the tips on Buddhist traditions and your compliments. I only know about such things because I have friends from all walks of life and I take an interest in subjects like these. Thanks for supporting the Sess/Kag pairing!
~ Hanyou-demoness: No, I won't let you have Sess all to yourself! I'll definitely fight you for him. I liked the idea of blending the stern anime Sess with the more whimsical manga version of him to come up with this guy you're reading. Heh, he is quite appealing like this, isn't he?
~ Kio-tye: I update once every 3 weeks or so. I would update faster but I got too many things to do and I'm also trying to put together the later chapters without compromising quality. As for how soon is The End? I don't know… just wish my muse would return from its vacation though.
PS: I was threatened with being locked in a cupboard if I didn't stop talking about Sesshoumaru. Luckily, I managed to grab the keyboard and peer through the keyhole to see the monitor. I just hope I get let out soon… it's getting creepy in here.
~ StesunaFanGirl, Tsuki Yume, Hill - Top - Sheep (baa), jarjayes, Vian, Kitsunekagome23, sashlea, writerlover101, Cattibrie393, CrystalBlueSeraph, Lunatic Pandora 1, migele, Toki Mirage, Suki1: Thanks for all your lovely comments and compliments! My humble apologies for not updating as fast as possible, but I can never sacrifice quantity for quality. So keep reading to find out what's happening!
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Chapter 15: Flashback - Within the Binds of Fate (Part 1)
Within the boundaries of the Western Lands,
The week before
Sango jumped up when she heard Kirara's low growl of warning. Miroku had already brought his staff around and his eyes narrowed in concentration as he attempted to gauge the youki that emanated through the land. Sango unconsciously tightened her hold on Hiraikotsu as she saw the deep frown crossing his face and Kirara transformed. Although she was not as adapt as her other two companions in detecting approaching youkai, she more than made up for it with her combat skills.
"What is it, houshi-sama?" she asked the tense man as he continued to look eastwards. Looking away, he turned and flashed her a brief smile before sobering up.
"I sense a great jaki coming in from the east, Sango. It seems that something is brewing between the youkai and is now reaching the stage of outright fighting," Miroku replied. "We may be facing massive swarms of youkai soon judging by the speed they are approaching."
"You mean that the youkai are about to launch an attack about here?" Sango gasped in shock. "But only low-level youkai may swarm and usually it's to migrate from one feeding area to the next. Even so, they rarely do it."
"There is more to this than simple swarming, Sango," Miroku said. "I sense another power but it is too faint to make it out. However, it seems to be calling out to the youkai thereby causing them to swarm. And I wonder if…" he murmured as his face became thoughtful.
Sango watched him contemplate the situation and decided to wait it out. If the swarm were planning to attack any of the surrounding villages, she would immediately step in and exterminate them. If they were swarming for some other reason, she would find out what was causing it and keep the information for future reference after taking it out. But some gut feeling told her that there was something sinister to this. The fact that Miroku mentioned another power 'calling' to them was disturbing. She hoped to observe the situation for herself. Turning her head, she caught the look in the priest's eye. Like her, Miroku had no intention of sitting on the sidelines. If anything, he was just as eager and gestured to the waiting fire-cat.
"After you, my lady," came the smooth invitation.
Flashing him a quick grin, she hopped up and reached out to pull him behind her. A moment later, they were airborne and heading straight towards the heart of the swarm.
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Naraku's PalaceAs he made the final preparations, Naraku could barely suppress the smile that crept across his features. Things were starting to come together and Kanna's mirror had shown the massing of youkai troops on the boundaries of the forest where Kuromiko and her followers hid. As he continued to watch, the mirror focused upon the Four Lords, each in turn.
A wider smirk curled his lips as he watched the heavy-set bear youkai wave his troops into place while roaring out his orders. 'Daikumo would be one of the first few to fall,' Naraku thought to himself. Next to Sesshoumaru, the Lord of Northern Lands was another annoyance with his constant interference into Naraku's business. Unlike the bellowing bear youkai, Sesshoumaru calmly relayed his orders to his various field captains who then took it upon themselves to manage the troops.
Kanna's mirror then locked in on the sprightly figure of the kitsune lord and Naraku narrowed his eyes in contemplation. Although he had little interest in kitsune, he knew that they possessed some exceptional cloaking and masking magic. Perhaps Lord Akira may prove of use to him once he got a hold of the Dark Shikon. After all, if it can amplify the powers of the one that possesses it, no doubt he, Naraku, would be able to utilise those powers once the kitsune was absorbed within the jewel's infinite depths.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he focused on the final member of the group. He could see the agitated features of the dragon lord as he gave his orders and the harried looks his followers shot him out of the corner of their eyes. Lord Honouryuu looked like he wished to be anywhere but with his troops and Naraku could not resist a feral grin. As far as he was concerned, Honouryuu was a weakling and a coward who relied on the collective strengths of his neighbours as well as their goodwill in not invading his lands.
Naraku's only interest in the dragon lord was his ability to produce a powerful fire that could melt rock. Such a pity that the one who wielded such a power lacked the backbone to complement it. No matter, Naraku would make very sure to include Lord Honouryuu's valuable ability within the jewel. As the mirror faded out, Naraku prepared his kugutsu to lead the youkai swarm. Kagura was outside awaiting his command and the swarm of youkai was beginning to increase in volume. Soon, they would become too great a force to control and Naraku had to make sure that they were away from his residence by then.
His kugutsu now complete, Naraku instructed the both of them to head towards the great forest. He watched the two climb into Kagura's feather boat and glide off into the darkening sky.
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Forest on the boundaries of the Four Lands,
Early evening
Kuromiko Tsubaki replaced the seal that kept the Magatsushi from being detected by other youkai or spiritually-sensitised individuals. She knew that time was of the essence as the jewel's light was starting to darken and a sickly-glow would flare periodically. Although she and the others had managed to create the rival to the Shikon no Tama, it still possessed a degree of unpredictability and danger.
Each day was an effort on her part to contain the wild power brewing within its depths and she was tiring. Soon, she would either be consumed or fail due to exhaustion. Frowning slightly, she began to wonder at the wisdom of having created such a dangerous object.
"Well Kuromiko, is the jewel ready for us to use?" Orochidayuu asked, his greedy eyes focused on the pale glimmer of the jewel.
"I have told you that it is still unstable, Orochidayuu. To use it now could ensure all our deaths as well as taking out half the forest," Kuromiko replied tersely. The youkai was beginning to irritate her with his constant demands to test the jewel. Can he not sense the danger it held? She sighed inwardly as she moved past him to step out into the forest.
The fading warm rays of the sun filtered through the overhead branches and she closed her eyes briefly to relax in the calm. The past few months had been a trial for her as she struggled with the forging of the jewel and the demands it imposed on her soul. Although the others had assisted her wherever possible, she had been the primary creator in the jewel's conception. And now, she was beginning to regret it.
As she continued to relax in her surroundings, Kuromiko was unaware that several miles away, stood two armies that would determine the jewel's ultimate fate.
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At the boundaries of the Great Forest,
Twilight
The final plans were settled and Sesshoumaru made his way to the makeshift camp before the assault was to begin. Throughout the day, his vassals and troops had been arriving in order to answer the summons of their lord and master. It was gratifying to know that they were as interested as he was in removing the Magatshushi from existence as they had been disturbed by its abilities. For a few of them like Lord Honouryuu, it brought back unpleasant memories of the war between several powerful youkai and the great miko Midoriko. And they all knew what had resulted from it.
Settling himself down for a brief respite from the activities around him, Sesshoumaru allowed himself to relax. He had trust in his troops and retainer to see to the more mundane aspects now that the crucial plans were out of the way. He had opted, instead of the base of the tree, for a high branch of a tree that shielded him from view but still within easy calling distance. Tilting his head back, he stared up into the deep blue of the darkened sky as if to touch it with his gaze. He could make out a few stars and his thoughts began to stray to someone he had hoped to forget.
'Is she back in her world? Would she have forgotten about me?'
Jerking up at the last thought, he roughly shook his head. Ever since that day of Kagome's disappearance down the well, he had been plagued with a sense of guilt and frustration. Guilt for mistreating her at the well and not thanking her for obtaining Tessaiga; frustration in feeling the pricking of his conscience from the guilt. He had never indulged in regret; it served no purpose but to depress the spirit and distract the mind. And he had Kagome to blame for reminding him of this weakness. He hated to admit it but a small corner of his heart yearned to see her, to remember what her smile was like, to feel the soft touch of her hands as they stroked through his hair.
The more he had tried to deny it, the more he longed for it. In the end, he decided to accept that she had 'weakened' him if only to justify the ache within. It had helped ease the discomfort but it had also heightened the longing. He cursed himself at his foolishness but each time he looked at Tessaiga, it only served to remind him all the more. And since the day he had pushed her away, Tessaiga had remained silent. It was as if the sword too mourned for the girl and Sesshoumaru began to wonder if returning her to her world was the biggest mistake he had made. Perhaps, when the both of them breached that barrier within the Cavern, it had formed some inexplicable bond between them.
This brought another thought to mind: the barrier was a mystery to him. It had reacted so gently to Kagome, soothing her as it were yet had made no qualms of blasting him backwards. The manner in which he had been deflected bore an uncanny resemblance to Kagome's earlier assault on him. Could it be that the power she contained and the barrier were one in the same? It had felt that way - in more ways than one. He recalled the dreamy-eyed look in her eyes when she had touched the barrier and felt a slight quickening of his heart. She had looked so… sated. It was as though she had been recently made love to and Sesshoumaru quickly tossed that image aside.
Taking a slow breath, he approached the mystery from a more objective manner. Assuming that Kagome's and the barrier's properties were alike, why had she not just walked through it? Why was it that only when he had touched her that the barrier actually allowed them both to pass through? He had not deliberately focus his ki but simply reached to pull her back. Perhaps it could have been something to do with him being a youkai. Somehow, his youkai heritage worked as a means of disrupting the barrier's flow thereby allowing it to be temporarily neutralised. With little else to go on, Sesshoumaru accepted this hypothesis for the moment.
But the barrier had resumed immediately after they had fallen or rather, sucked in. Jaken's attempts to enter were rebuffed, thereby proving the transient nature of the barrier's failure to keep them out. But with regards to the sword, it became harder to rationalise. Why did Tessaiga's seal create that strange lethargy once it was broken? It had not been unpleasant but rather too pleasant as she had lain there curled upon his chest. She made him feel protective and gentle towards her, as if they were mated to each other. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at this and he mentally struggled with such an absurd notion. He considered humans as being below his station so how could he even consider one as a suitable mate? Even if it was someone as powerful as her and that she had helped him to transform Tessaiga.
He sighed softly and returned to look up into the now dark sky for an answer. If Kagome were the only one who could allow him to transform Tessaiga into the mighty blade it was, he would have to persuade her to return. But that would mean having to venture into the strange well. Frowning, he quickly discarded the idea. He, the great Lord Sesshoumaru, would never beg a human for anything, not even for Tessaiga. There must be another way to discover the secret to unlocking the power behind Tessaiga - the question being who was the one who had created it or who possessed knowledge of the mighty blade.
Mentally sorting through his memory of ancient beings that may know of the sword, he finally came to a probable individual. Smiling slightly, he made a note to visit the reclusive sword-maker once his duties were taken care of. After all, Toutousai was the only sword-maker who possessed enough knowledge and experience in all types of blades to be able to solve the enigma that was Tessaiga.
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Author's Notes: Well, again still skimping on the action sequences. I did promise to reveal more about why Kag and Sess were able to 'break' the barrier but without giving too much detail away. The truth is, sometimes it's nice not having to explain every little detail. Besides, I made it from Sess' point of view so that should make it easier.
The stage is set and the players are moving into place. I'm still working on how to draft the chapters but I just need a little time to get things sorted out. That's the problem with having too many characters' points of view - it gets confusing after awhile. That's why I'm so big into editing - everything must make some degree of sense and still maintain a flow. Overall, this chapter is just plot. I just hope that since it's mostly Sesshy's thoughts, it would redeem itself a little.
So till the next time, please let me know your thoughts on this, ja mata ne!