X-stasy

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. If I did Isane would sooo be a character in the story!

Warning: This fic is rated R.

Chapter 18: -Hope-

The sound of childish giggles rang through the air.

The women had requested of their male traveling companions a chance to rest and relax after several days of hard travel. Their request accepted they decided to take a soak in the nearby natural, hot springs. Dazzle and Sparkle, the two twins of the Seven White Knight, were having a hell of a time splashing each other and it was their laughter that seemed to carry on the night wind. A full moon shone brightly overhead casting yellow-tinged rays upon the dark waters of the hot springs. Crickets played their song adding to the girl's laughter.

Surya sighed as she sunk deeper into the water, the warm temperature soothing her aches and pains. It had been a nice suggestion to take a soak, however bad memories always seemed to find her in the bath...

Surya ran as fast as she could towards the sound of combat. It sounded like an all out war. What the hell could be going on she wondered worriedly?!

And then she saw him...a warrior bathed from head to toe in blood. He looked...demonic, evil, inhuman. He was a monster.

Surya quickly scanned the bloodied battlefield for signs of her father. He was a High Priest and she was sure he would have come to aid the others as selfless as he was. He was very powerful and Surya had always looked up to him. She knew that he had to be ok. He was too strong to fall so easily to the hands of a mere monster.

But then Surya caught sight of his signature white-streaked auburn brown hair. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be.

Surya was at his side in an instant.

"Father," Surya shook his shoulder in an effort to raise him from unconsciousness. "Father!" She yelled when he still didn't respond.

Slowly, the eyes of Surya's father opened and he peered back at her with a matching set of golden-hued eyes. "Surya, my precious child."

"Father," Surya said as tears began to stream down her face.

"Surya...don't let the prophecy come to pass. I know you can do it. It's up to you kids to set things right. I realize that now. Be careful, my darling daughter." Suddenly her father coughed up blood and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.

"No!!! Father!"

Surya placed her head in her hands as she tried to forget. Yes, the bath always brought back unwanted memories.

"A deadly spider's web shall ensnare the golden-winged butterfly..." Came an ominous voice.

"Luna?" Surya peered out from her hands at the little girl, who was also a part of the Seven White Knights. Surya always thought Luna was too young for this, but she was certainly talented enough to handle herself just as well as the others. Sometimes age didn't matter to those with natural abilities like Luna.

Luna's head was peering upwards at the moon, which was beginning to take on a reddish tint. "Soon now...very soon...she shall be taken!" Surya's eyes narrowed as she realized Luna was having a prevision of the future.

"Who Luna? Who will be taken?" Surya swam in the water and rested a hand on Luna's shoulder.

Luna gasped. "The Key of Light!"

Surya's eyes widened. The Key of Light. What was Luna saying? Did she mean...

"What's wrong with her?" Kagome asked suddenly noticing the state that the little girl was in.

"Luna is a Light Seer, she has the ability to see into the future. Right now she is having one of her visions. The vision has shown her that the Key of Light is in danger. But...that would mean that one of us, the Seven White Knights, is in peril, since one of us is supposed to be the prophesized Key of Light although his or her powers have not been awakened yet."

"The Key of Light?" Kagome quirked her head in a curious fashion. "Luna, and in your visions you cannot see who the Key of Light is?"

Luna peered at Kagome with dull red eyes and lifelessly shook her head, her long, thick white hair waving back and forth eerily.

"Uh...alright." Kagome found herself somewhat unnerved by the child's cold demeanor. Children her age should be much more lively, and she was abnormally pale. She sighed; it was battle that caused young ones to age faster than was wont. Suddenly Kagome felt two arms wrap around her from behind. Kagome was startled until she realized who it was and relaxed in their embrace--it was Ayame.

"You worry too much, Kagome." Ayame informed her friend. "When we get to the Western Castle all will be explained. And whoever the Key of Light turns out to be I'm sure we'll be able to protect them. One must keep hold of hope in times like these."

"You're right." Kagome nodded somewhat reassured by her friends words.

"Although...sometimes things seems hopeless." Came a voice. And the girl's turned to see Sango sipping a small cup of sake thoughtfully. Kagome knew instantly that she was thinking of her brother Kohaku.

Luna turned to look at Sango and suddenly her red eyes widened abnormally. Pointing a single trembling finger towards Sango she began in an otherworldly voice. "You have a brother...I am sorry but he will die protecting the one he loves!"

Sango spit out the sake she had in her mouth. "What? What did you just say? You can't mean it!" Sango began to panic.

Kagome looked just as shocked, and went over to comfort her now distraught friend. "Sango, it's alright." Kagome stroked her friend's hair. "The future...has not been decided yet."

Sango let out a deep breath. "I hope you're right, Kagome. I hope you're right."

Isane's hand trembled as she brought the coffee cup tremulously to her lips. She took a deep sip before setting the cup down back on the plate as it clattered slightly. She sighed. It had been several days since Sesshomaru had betrayed her heart. Several days since she hadn't gotten any sleep. Isane had decided she wouldn't allow herself to fall asleep out of fear that she would forget what Sesshomaru had done to her. She would not sleep, and not forget anything that happened anymore. She was too vulnerable without knowing what was really going on. If only she could remember...remember what had happened to make Sesshomaru become like this. If she could then she might have known how to help him.

But as it was she did not remember and so was a lose of what to do to help him turn back to normal. She was still confidant that he could be saved and that the real Sesshomaru would one day come back to her. Isane took another sip of coffee as her eyelids drooped. No! She wouldn't allow herself to fall asleep, she just couldn't. What if she missed something important? What if the real Sesshomaru came back to her and when she next woke she wouldn't even remember. Isane silently cursed her fate. If only she was a normal woman, not a broken one. Then perhaps she and Sesshomaru would have a chance at true love.

Isane fingered one of the white strands of hair that hung down on either side of her face. No...she would not forget one thing at least. She would not forget the truth--that Sesshomaru would never see fit to love a human woman. Isane wondered if she would ever tell him the truth now. It seemed doubtful that she would even get a chance to try his love. Love. Sesshomaru had said he had never loved her. Was that just this new Sesshomaru that was talking or was there some truth to what he was saying. Isane felt hot tears begin to stream down her face. Even if she found out, if she fell asleep she wouldn't remember.

Isane drunk the rest of her coffee down in one gulp and proceeded to pour herself another cup. Thinking back to the day it happened...Isane unknowingly brought a hand to her neck. Sesshomaru had marked her that day as his mate. They were bonded now, in mind, spirit, and body. Isane wondered if that even meant anything to this new Sesshomaru. Though she found it strange that he had avoided her since that day. Perhaps buried deep the real Sesshomaru was saddened by what he had done to her. She hoped it was as such. Her skin was still tender there where he had bit her and drunk of her lifeblood. It was something she had wanted, to be his life mate, but now...

'Not like this. It wasn't supposed to be like this.'

Isane also brought a hand to the necklace that lay about her neck. The Control Collar that was guised as a stunning necklace. She should have known it was too good to be true. A gift! She had truly thought it was a gift! Isane began to laugh a bitter laugh. So be it. She was his. He had marked her and now with the Control Collar she was at his mercy. There was nothing she could do about this now. However, she would try and find a way she decided.

Perhaps, this bond they now shared went both ways...

"And this is a picture of Sesshomaru!" Shippo smiled with glee as he held up his crayon-colored drawing up for Rin to observe.

Something flashed in her eyes before they returned to their normal lifelessness. She hadn't spoken since she had arrived at Kaede's village and Shippo was very worried about her. He had tried everything he could think of to cheer to small girl-child up but to no avail. Now he was drawing funny colored pictures with the crayons that Kagome had gifted him with. Despite Rin's muteness he could tell she had been interested in how he had managed to produce colored drawings.

But still the girl would not speak, would not laugh, and would not smile. Shippo sighed, he was running out of ideas. He just had to make her happy. He didn't know why this meant so much to him all of a sudden, but perhaps it had something to do with the promise he had made Kagome. And Shippo took promises very seriously indeed. His kitsune pride wouldn't let him have it any other way. So Shippo continued to draw funny, exaggerated drawings of the taiyoukai hoping that Rin would snap out of her stupor.

Finally, he drew a picture of what it would look like if Inuyasha and Sesshomaru sat down and actually tried to have a meal together. Lightning was flashing between the brother's eyes in anger as they both tried to stay composed. Rin's eyes sparkled and she actually smiled. Shippo returned her smile glad that he had managed to finally make her happy.

It was at that exact moment however that suddenly the whole hut seemed to be crashing in on them. Shippo was at Rin's side in an instant as he tried to shield her from falling debris as best he could with his small body.

"Dance of the Wind Blades!" Came a voice Shippo wished he hadn't recognized.

It was Kagura, the wind youkai. In seconds it was all over and Shippo and Rin had survived unlike their little hut. Walking over the wreckage Kagura made her way towards the two with purposeful steps. She pointed her fan at Shippo and smiled. "Hello kitsune, just hand over the girl and I just might decide to let you live."

Shippo's eyes widened. Why would Kagura be here for Rin he wondered before his fur bristled in anger. "I will never give you Rin! You'll have to get through me first!" Shippo declared in an exhibition of bravery as he stood in front of Rin and prepared his signature attack. "Fox fire!" Shippo bellowed as he unleashed a green-tinged fireball at Kagura.

"Foolish kit." Kagura scoffed and with a wave of her fan the fire was extinguished. "Get out of my way! Dance of the Wind Blades!" Kagura unleashed her blades of wind at Shippo. Shippo hopped form foot to foot nervously wondering what he should do. But it was too late. With a sharp cry of pain the blades of wind hit Shippo and he was sent flying backwards into a wall.

Kagura walked over to the prone Rin and simply picked her up. The small girl-child offering her little resistance.

"Wha...do you want with her?" Shippo weakly spoke from his position on the floor.

Kagura raised an eyebrow that the kit was still conscious after being hit directly with her attack. "I don't want anything to do with her. But Naraku...seems to have need of the child. And so I'm just following orders." Shippo almost thought he heard a tinge of concern in Kagura's voice but quickly brushed it off as being in his imagination. Shippo struggled to stand, to fight for Rin's safely, but Kagura simply removed a feather from her hair and in seconds she and Rin were taking off into the sky.

"No!" Shippo cried before he fell unconscious. 'Mom...I'm so sorry.' Where Shippo's last thoughts as he let darkness consume him.

Sesshomaru took another long draught of wine from his glass. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand he poured more of the bloodred liquid before taking another sip. He looked down into the wine glass and saw his reflection looking back at him. He frowned, he didn't look so good. He had dark circles under his bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep, and he had a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. He had been like this since the day he had marked Isane as his mate.

'What's wrong with me? Why am I like this?' Sesshomaru shook his head, causing his long black hair to swish back and forth.

'Don't tell me you don't know what's wrong with yourself?' Came a voice that seemed to be everywhere all at once.

The Dark Knight growled low in his throat. 'How the hell should I know what's wrong with me! I'm not a god! Damn this! This...pain and sorrow that has somehow made its way into my heart!'

'It is because of the Blood Bond...the bond you and Isane share. This is only one of the many side effects you will suffer for marking her as your mate. Now the two of you are one. You shall share everything. You will feel what she feels. You will know what she knows. And you will long to be one with her.' The somewhat familiar voice explained to the Key of Darkness in the tones one would use when addressing a child.

Sesshomaru looked around for the source of the voice frustrated. 'Why don't you stop hiding in shadows and face me, you bastard!' Sesshomaru snarled back in his mind.

'But I'm not hiding. I'm right here...'

'Where?!'

'Follow the cold chill that's running down your spine...' The voice advised.

The Dark Knight could sense another presence in the room. He decided to obey the voice and using this senses his eyes wandered about his private chambers. He looked over his desk...his bed...and then his eyes came to rest on his full-length mirror. He slowly walked towards the mirror sensing that the presence came from there. When he looked back at the reflection in the mirror his eyes widened in shock.

'Bingo...' the image in the mirror smiled back at him.

Sesshomaru took in the sight of the mirror image before him--it looked just like him however his hair wasn't black but silvery-while, and the wings that were outstretched from his body where also white whereas his were black.

'Who the hell are you?!' The Dark Knight demanded.

'I am you...the other you. Your Shadow Self. Your subconscious. Surprisingly, your good side. Usually you who are evil are the Shadow Self but you have somehow trapped me within my own mind so to speak. Our true self is a balance between the two of us--of light and darkness. We are neither one nor the other but a combination of both. You are nothing without me just as I am nothing without you. Understand?'

'You lie! I don't need you! I am far more powerful without my 'good' side as you so eloquently put it.' The Dark Knight scoffed at his mirror image.

'You are sadly mistaken. You think you are more powerful but it is just as Isane said...your emotions and darkness rule you now where you were once in control, where we were once in control.'

'I don't have to listen to this crap! What are you my conscious? Oooo I'm so scared! Ha! I am my own entity! And have extreme power on my own. I don't need you! So why don't you just leave me the hell alone!' The Dark Knight spat.

The Sesshomaru in the mirror shook his head sadly at his counterpart. 'I pity you...you ignorant son of a-! Without me you made a horrible mistake. How could you do it?! Tell me!'

The Dark Knight narrowed his eyes at his reflection. 'Do what?'

'Hurt Isane! Hurt the woman we love!' Tears began to stream down the mirror image of Sesshomaru. 'How could you be so dishonorable?!'

The Dark Knight simply started to laugh coldly. 'What do I care about honor, you little cry baby! Why don't you run home to momma, momma's boy! Pathetic. Simply pathetic! Besides, Isane is just a woman, my woman and nothing more.'

'You're wrong...she's not just any woman; she's our soul mate. And if you fail to comprehend this it could be our downfall.'

'Soul-mate?' The Dark Knight raised an eyebrow. 'You have got to be kidding me! I've had enough of this ridiculous conversation! Now begone!' The Dark Knight flung his wine glass at the mirror shattering it. 'Ridiculous...'

After the girls were done with their time in the hot springs the group set out for the Western Lands once more. At their current pace they would arrive at Sesshomaru's castle by daybreak.

One of the cloaked and hooded figures of the Seven White Knights came up along side Miroku.

Miroku looked at the figure curiously out of the corner of his eye wondering what the Knight could be up to. Suddenly, the Knight pulled back her hood to reveal a head of long, orange hair that was pulled back into a ponytail and sparkling red eyes. The Knight had a beautiful face and there was a beauty mark adorning the place right by her lip.

Miroku blinked and the Knight suddenly turned to Miroku with a broad smile on her face. Her eyes widened even more and it was almost like there were stars in her eyes. "Ooooo you are just too cute!!!" The Knight suddenly exclaimed grabbing Miroku's two cheeks before Miroku could have reacted. The Knight then pulled on the houshi's cheeks and started making cooing noises. Miroku was at loss of what to do. Here a beautiful woman was fawning over him but he felt sort of bad since Sango was right next to them.

"Uh..." Miroku started to object.

"Aren't you just the sweetest little thing?! I could eat you all up!" The Knight cooed and started to lean in to place a kiss on Miroku's lips.

"I wouldn't let him kiss you if I were you." Luna said in a toneless voice.

Miroku was in a daze as those luscious lips were coming towards him until something the small girl had said registered in his mind. "Him?!" Miroku quickly leapt away from the Knight and hide himself behind Sango. "Sango save me!"

SLAP.

"That's what you get for letting him come on to you like that! hmph!" Sango said stalking away from him.

"Sango don't leave me with him! Take me with you! Please!!!" Miroku begged chasing after her dust rising in his wake.

"Oh, boo hoo!" The Knight whined sticking a thumb in his mouth and pouting. "And just when it was getting good too! You're such a spoil sport Luna!"

"Just when are you going to stop playing dress up and accept the fact you're a man, Li." Luna questioned emotionlessly.

"I'll never give up being a woman!" Li exclaimed fist raised in the air before him adamantly. "Because one day I'm sure I'll find a way to turn myself into a woman for real!"

"..." Luna had no comment.

"Luna, Luna, Luna, you really need to loosen up and act more like a kid your age, you know!" Li advised coming up next to the girl-child and placing a hand on her shoulder while giving it a slight squeeze. "You're way too serious all the time. It isn't healthy. Try having more fun! Don't you think it's even just a little bit funny how I tricked that poor houshi?!"

"No."

Li sighed and shook his head. "I know we all have our reasons for what we do in life but that doesn't mean you can wear a frown all the time. I for one know my sister would never forgive me if I didn't try to live life to the fullest!"

"I didn't know you had a sister."

"It was...a long time ago." Li stated wistfully. "We were so close and so similar people mistook us for twins. She looked up to me and I loved my little sisters. But then she caught an incurable disease and died from it. I too died that day but was reborn as Li. I decided that if my sister could no longer be in this world I would take her place. And so that's when I began dressing as a woman and even started behaving as one. It's because I didn't really want her gone, and every time I looked in the mirror I saw...my sister. I know it sounds like a strange way to keep her memory alive but.." Li shrugged. "It's just how things turned out I suppose."

"I'm sorry..." Luna trailed off.

Li looked at her with a surprised expression on his face. "What for?"

"I always thought you were...odd. I never could have guessed you had such a reason for doing what you do. I've misjudged you. I'm truly sorry."

"There you go being all serious again! Really it's no big deal. Lots of people feel the same way about me but it's just who I am. And I've come to accept that. As long as I stay true to myself I know my sister will be proud of me where she's watching me in heaven." Li smiled. "So...mind telling me what your reason is for being so serious all the time?"

Luna sighed. "I suppose since you shared part of your life with me I shall return the favor. I've been able to see into the future since I could walk. Always, plagued with visions of what shall come to pass but without the power to influence the outcome. Every time I tried to stop something bad from happening I failed. And then I realized that was the curse of my gift. Sure I would know what the future would bring but I couldn't do anything about it either way--if the future was a good or a bad one. How can I be happy when I know of all these bad things that are going to happen to the people I care about and yet am powerless to do anything to stop it!"

Li blinked. He hadn't thought Luna had been so affected by her ability to see the future. "Hey, it's ok. Sometimes you can't think of the future as already being decided. There are forces out there in the universe more powerful than fate itself that could have the ability to really change things."

"Like what?"

"Love." Li grinned.

"Love..." Luna tried the word out on her lips and wondered.

Meanwhile in Naraku's lair...

Kohaku made his way slowly down into the dungeons. He had overheard that Rin had been brought to the lair and was now being held prisoner. Apparently, she was to be kept alive for some higher purpose. Kohaku wondered just exactly what Naraku had in mind for the girl-child and frowned. He didn't like any of the ideas he had come up with.

Deeper and deeper Kohaku traveled into the lower dungeons surprised at how far they had decided to imprison Rin. Finally he arrived at her cell and what he saw shocked him. The little girl had been clapped in chains that looked grossly overlarge for her diminutive form. They seemed to be drowning her. And yet she didn't seem to mind much. In fact, she seemed more dead than alive. She wasn't moving at all and Kohaku thought for a fleeting second that she was dead before he noticed the rise and fall of her chest.

"Rin," Kohaku sighed in relief. "Hey...I've brought you some food." Kohaku fished in his haori for the keys he had swiped and soon began the task of unlocking Rin's cell. She didn't seem to acknowledge his presence though and remained still. This worried Kohaku and he quickened his pace in unlocking her cell before going over to her. He kneeled before her and in his outstretched hands he held a bun of bread. "Here...go on take it."

Rin looked back at Kohaku with dull eyes and didn't make a move to take the proffered bread.

"Hey Rin...what's wrong?" Kohaku was really worried now. He had never seen her like this before. The last time they had been in a similar situation when Naraku had kidnapped her she had talked nonstop--something about hating the quiet. "Rin, this isn't like you. Please tell me what's wrong?"

Rin raised her head and seemed to look past Kohaku.

"Rin!" Kohaku decided to set the bun aside and began shaking her arms. "Snap out of it Rin!"

"Kohaku?" Came Rin's weak reply.

"Rin! Oh god Rin! I'm so glad you're ok!" Kohaku threw his arms around the small girl and held her before he realized what he was doing. Kohaku let her go and coughed into his hand discreetly. "Anyways, I brought you some food, here." Kohaku offered her the bun once more. This time small hands struggled to take it as the chains about her wrists weighed her down. Kohaku was tempted to unchain her but the thought of what Naraku would do him or Rin if he found out stopped him.

Rin slowly began to eat her bun of bread before thick tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"It's ok Rin...I'm here now and I promise you I won't let anything happen to you."

"You promise?" Rin hiccupped.

"Yea!" Kohaku beamed at her. She was so pretty he thought looking at the cute way her hair was held up on one side in a ponytail. "So no worries ok?"

Rin smiled weakly at her friend gazing at his playful freckles. "Ok...thanks a lot Kohaku. Rin was so scared and Rin misses Rin's father so much. Rin is worried that Rin will never see him again."

"Your father?"

"Sesshomaru-sama."

Kohaku raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that guy. I think he'd be impossible to kill. I doubt you have anything to worry about."

"Really?" Rin said through a mouthful of bread.

"Definitely." Kohaku smirked.

"Thanks, Kohaku you're the best!" Rin actually smiled wider showing her teeth and Kohaku thought it was all worth it in the end.

Meanwhile in the underground temple of the Dark Order...

Obsidian smiled his crooked smile as he peered in his brass basin and watched the unsuspecting Seven White Knights and the others near the Western Lands.

"Enjoy your time together while you still can." Obsidian drawled. "Soon...my wolf in sheep's clothing will strike!" Obsidian began to cackle and he thought with glee over the trap he had set for the Seven White Knights long ago...

To be continued...

AN: I know, I know, this chapter is soo short but it's really the calm before the storm, so the speak, and I felt I wanted to end it here. You can expect LOTS of action and adventure in the next chapter, which I also believe shall be another Chapzilla! Thanks again for the reviews!!!! Oh, and I keep forgetting just leave me your email peeps, for anyone else who would like to be on my mailing list for chapter updates!!!