Disclaimers: Only in my dreams… I just keep the non-canon characters.
Thank you:
CrystalBlueSeraph: Thanks for the compliment! Well, the Flasback is going to take a few chapters to tell of what really happened so I hope that it will answer all your questions.
sashlea: Heh…. I don't mind a little harassment now and then. It keeps the motivation going!
Mademoiselle Morte: All in good time… The story is moving along even if it does seem slow.
Toki Mirage: There's plenty of action in the works. How's this chapter for you?
Tsuki Yume: Well, I do plan to sit down and re-read the entire story to the latest chapter and see how to get things moving. I'm not all out of inspiration; I just need some time to actually put it down on paper as it were. But thanks for the encouragement! As for the Jewel, the question will be answered soon.
Lunatic Pandora1: Sesshy running into Kag's time to get Tessaiga to work? Heh… Who knows? Maybe he would or maybe he'll just suck it in and act all macho. Flip a coin!
L: It may seem a little confusing now because it is only the first part of the Flashback chapters. The end of Chapter 14 is like a jump in time. What happened in the battle is to be explained in greater detail here. I was teasing the readers with the ending.
jaryjosephwantsapplejuiceice: Thanks for the compliments! As for whom Kag met at the well, it'll be a little while more. I'm just starting to get to the good parts now. How's that for further death by curiosity? ::lol::
Also thanks to: bakaonna, Suki1, PegasusRider, Cattibrie393, IWorshipInuSesshyMalfoyLebeau, MelloJen85, Kio-tye.
Chapter 16: Flashback - Within the Binds of Fate (Part 2)
Within the Forest of Despair,
The night before
Kuromiko Tsubaki gasped as she woke up drenched in cold sweat and shivering in trepidation at the nightmare that had plagued her. It had been happening more frequently between her bouts of sleep and now it had begun to encroach upon her waking thoughts. Her regret at creating the Magatsushi was now a palpable weight in her breast as the dark miko struggled to justify her actions each day. As it stood, the only one of the group who lusted after the jewel was Orochidayuu and his constant eyeing of the jewel's hiding place made it difficult for Tsubaki to leave the shrine that housed it. And by being so near to it, it had been the cause of her nightly agonies.
'How can I destroy this thing without killing myself and taking out half the forest?' she pondered as she sat on the topmost stair of the shrine. Looking up at the harvest moon, she sighed softly in frustration. 'These nightmares are portents of the future, I just know it,' she thought grimly. 'And my greed has caused it to begin its cycle of doom.'
Hidden from the miko's keen senses, Daikuma's spy made its way stealthily through the forest towards his lord's base. For the past two weeks, the young tanuki had been observing the comings and goings of the dark miko and her two followers and judging from the situation, it was time to make his final report. As he quickly made his way through the shadow-cloaked forest, he failed to notice a sudden movement before it was too late. A sudden hiss and the tanuki's mutilated body lay on the forest floor.
"It seems that we have attracted some unwanted attention, Izumo," Orochidayuu muttered as he kicked at the tanuki's severed head.
"It looks like Lord Daikuma's colours," Izumo murmured as he picked at the tattered clothing. "I have no doubt that this spy was about to report to his master."
"Well, it can report to its master in hell," Orochidayuu hissed. "Quick, we must get Kuromiko to prepare the jewel for its purpose. No doubt, Daikuma is waiting to attack us to get his own grubby paws on the Magatsushi."
"Kuromiko is still unsure of the jewel's stability," Izumo replied as he kept pace with the swiftly moving youkai. "If it is still pulsing unhealthily, there could be a high chance of it exploding and consuming us within its sphere."
"I do not care for that," came to harsh response. "As far as I am concerned, any chance of success is a worthwhile reason. Besides, I don't think that Daikuma's acting alone. I have spotted some unusual activity by the Western border and if it involves Sesshoumaru, we will be dead before then."
Izumo kept quiet as they continued their brisk walk towards the shrine. His thoughts were fluctuating between the need to use the jewel to ensure their success and the possible fallout if it failed. The thought of Sesshoumaru being involved in the affair heightened his anxiety but he did not voice it. As it stood, either way the Northern Lord will get wind of the situation before then. The tanuki spy was no doubt on its way to give his report on the matter. Suddenly, Izumo felt the urge to discuss things with Kuromiko. Orochidayuu was too hot headed and his avarice was more of a hindrance than an asset.
As they reached the clearing, they saw the dark miko standing at the porch of the shrine to meet them. And judging from her expression, something was not right.
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Northern boundary of the Forest of Despair,
Lord Daikuma's camp
"My lord!" came the frantic cry.
Daikuma raised his head and glared down at the trembling form of his kitsune retainer. Since Kohachi's return to the forest to spy on Kuromiko and the group, he had had to put up with the somewhat high-strung kitsune. Despite the acceptable service, Daikuma still had trouble trying to keep the nervous fox youkai in check. He could not decide if the kitsune was nervous because of his position or because of him. Either way, the fox exhausted him.
"Speak, Kouryu," came the gruff reply. He could see the kitsune jump at his reply and sighed inwardly. 'I hope you return soon, Kohachi,' came the thought. 'I don't think I can take much more of this.'
"Y-y-yes, my lord," Kouryu began, his breath escaping in small squeaks. "I bring the reports from the Lords of the Eastern and Southern Lands for your perusal."
"Leave them," came the dismissive reply. Almost dropping the parchments by his lord's desk, the kitsune quickly bowed low before disappearing out the tent's opening.
Picking up the scroll, Daikuma glanced through the two lords' missives. It seemed that both Honouryuu and Akira had set up their bases on their respective borders and awaited the cue to begin the assault. Sesshoumaru had already sent in his and Daikuma had little worry of the Western lord's abilities. If anything, Sesshoumaru would probably end the fight before it broke out into a full assault. The former Inu no Taisho had trained his son well.
Pushing aside the tent's flaps he took in the sight of his troops moving about and settling the supplies. A few of the troops were practising their attack skills in a large field to his right, while the rest of them tended to the other necessary chores. Walking amongst his troops, he nodded in greeting and talked briefly to a few of the captains regarding manoeuvres and other military tactics. Satisfied, he then returned to his tent and began to handle other personal correspondences and matters.
Unbeknownst to the Northern Lord, a dark cloud hovered low in the horizon. The tall trees and hills hid most of them from view but if observed closely, appeared to be a swarm of some kind. Leading them looked to be a large floating feather wherein two individuals perched. The female sat in front as she steered her craft closer to the hillside. Swooping low, the feather boat paused for a moment to allow the second figure to leap off and disappear into the dense foliage. Swinging upwards once more, she continued on her flight nearing her final destination.
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Naraku's Palace
With his smile in place, the hanyou Naraku lounged in comfort while taking in the view from Kanna's mirror. As he saw it, things were arranging themselves nicely to his plans. A little while more and Daikumo will give the signal to charge the dark miko's lair. And when the confusion starts, he would step in and seize the jewel before escaping. Kagura and the youkai swarm would cause further distractions and aid his kugutsu in escaping. But until then, Naraku was a very patient individual.
"Show me the Northern Lord," he ordered and the mirror wavered slightly before clearing. Within its depths, Naraku watched as the heavy-set bear youkai moved his troops into position.
Naraku's eyes narrowed in eager anticipation as the signal to begin the assault flared brightly in the dark sky. A moment later, the loud battle cries rang out as the troops from the four sides began their charge. The mirror switched its focus, and Naraku now took in the shocked faces of the three jewel makers as the forest suddenly burst into life. Scrambling quickly into the shrine, the barrier that was hastily erected managed to hold back the initial tide of warriors. As Lord Akira's troops were more conversant in magic, they applied various spells in an attempt to break the barrier before the trio within managed to utilise the Magatsushi.
However, it was at that moment that the jewel burst into life. Even from where he was, Naraku had to throw his hands up to block out the radiance from the jewel's glow. A moment later, it vanished and the suddenly light-deprived sky cloaked the view in an almost impenetrable gloom. Frowning, Naraku tried to blink the spots before his vision away while desperately trying to see what had happened. When it finally cleared, the hanyou's eyes widened in awe and delight. All that remained was a smoking crater and a single spark hovering over it.
"The jewel is mine," he murmured in glee and at that moment, Kagura and the swarm attacked.
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Within the Forest of Despair
Night
Sesshoumaru had barely enough time to escape the deadly blast that ripped through a large section of the forest. Unfortunately, he had lost almost half his troops in the process. Growling low in his throat in anger, he blinked to get his eyesight back. After a few more seconds, he could make out a strange glow hovering over the large crater in the ground and he cautiously made his way towards it. From his peripheral vision, he picked out the embattled Northern lord also making his way to it. Summoning his youki, he felt himself airborne when his battle-trained senses warned him of danger.
Turning to glance at his left, he saw a dark cloud approaching at an incredible speed. A moment later, he barely dodged a barrage of cutting attacks from a female sitting in a feather boat. 'This must be the female Jaken mentioned,' came the thought when he had to dodge another barrage of attacks. 'Damn bitch!' he snarled within as she drove him away from his intended target. He caught a glance at Daikuma as he fought off a swarm of low-grade youkai but the lord's earlier injuries from the blast had drained him of most of his strength.
Summoning his youki into a deadly whip at his fingertip, Sesshoumaru sliced it through the air causing the wind youkai to make an emergency landing. The whip also managed to eliminate several dozen youkai but their numbers were still too great. By now, the other lords and their surviving troops were engaged in battle with these youkai, thus leaving the Magatsushi alone. Quickly making his way to it and eliminating all youkai that got in his way, Sesshoumaru suddenly saw a strange individual cloaked in a baboon pelt heading straight for the jewel.
By now, the Magatsushi had stopped hovering and had come to rest on a small hill of dirt and debris. This made it easier for the baboon creature to snatch it up and Sesshoumaru knew that it would be a serious problem if it were to escape with it. Putting on a burst of speed, he leapt up readying his right hand for the Dokkasou to end the creature's existence. Unfortunately, just as he was about to swipe at it, he felt the blow from behind as Kagura's wind attack caught him. It knocked him off course and his armour broke. He smelt his blood seeping from the wounds but ignored the discomfort. Kagura swiftly launched a series of attacks forcing Sesshoumaru away from the baboon figure much to the annoyance of the taiyoukai.
However, Daikuma had managed to find an extra store of energy and had destroyed most of the bothersome swarm. Snarling in fury, the bear youkai barrelled towards the baboon figure that now had the Magatsushi in its grasp. Casting a brief glance towards the bear youkai, the creature quickly turned tail and dashed off with its prize. The bear youkai gave no thought to the battle behind but quickly followed after. Sesshoumaru, in the meantime, had received a few more injuries from Kagura's wind attacks and was forced into having to deal with the swarming youkai.
As Lord Akira fought alongside his remaining troops, he began to notice something strange happening to the youkai that made up the infantry. They were hesitating and seemed unsure about what they were doing. A few minutes later, they apparently made up their minds and to the Southern lord's horror, began to attack their own comrades.
"Look out!" he yelled just as one of his captains took a fatal blow to the head. "The youkai are turning! All troops pull back and re-group!"
The call caused a form of panic to spread as the higher youkai attempted to push back the attacks from their subordinates. By now, the phenomenon had spread throughout the battlefield and the remaining armies of the Four Lords were pressed together against a wall of deadly youkai. The situation was dire and Lord Honouryuu decided to transform into his true shape to reduce the odds in their favour. A few seconds later, a magnificent fire-red dragon towered over its troops and breathed out a powerful jet of flame that tore through the attacking swarm.
As the jet of flame roared out, it caused the swarm to spread out in order to avoid the brunt of the attack. Kagura and Sesshoumaru were almost caught in the blast but managed to avoid it. Returning to his whip, Sesshoumaru managed to throw the wind youkai off once more by causing her to crash heavily into the ground. Without waiting to see if she had died, Sesshoumaru took off after Daikuma and the baboon pelt creature. His wounds were beginning to throb but Sesshoumaru paid them no mind. He needed to get to Daikuma and the Magatsushi before something else happened.
Clearing the rise, he saw Daikuma tackle the creature to the ground. Tearing at the fur pelt, the Northern lord was a towering figure of rage. As he levelled the final strike, a sudden gust of wind blew him off the creature. Swooping down in her feather boat, a very battered Kagura grasped the arm of the creature and yanked him onboard. Sparing a glance at the inu youkai swiftly making his way towards her, Kagura understood the meaning of fear from another level. In that brief space of time, the threat of Naraku destroying her heart held little meaning than the painful death promised within livid amber-red eyes.
Forcing another blast at the inu youkai with her fan, she swiftly made her way back towards Naraku's Palace hoping that the youkai swarm would detain the Western lord long enough for her to escape. Beside her, the baboon pelt had sagged and dust trailed from its edges. Kicking the thing over the side in disgust, Kagura grabbed at the softly glowing jewel and cursed at her tortuous night.
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Author's Notes: An action-packed chapter concluded. No doubt it seemed boring in the beginning but I had to include a little more background info on the characters. Aside from that, this chapter took its own sweet time in the making. My fault for not being too pro-active in sitting down to type it out. Either way, it's finally done. There will be one more chapter to this Flashback scene before we get down to the real business that is Kag and Sess. I hope to finish with this arc soon, as I want to move on into the actual point of the story. I hope that I'll find more inspiration to help me out because I feel like I'm starting to push it. I really want to complete this story so please leave me some motivational messages in the box below? Thanks!
Till the next time, ja mata ne!