Disclaimer: I do not own Wolf's Rain or Inuyasha.
Hi guys! Sorry this took me a while, but I have started another fanfic called "The Truth of it All" in the Inuyasha section (check it out please), so I posted the first chapter of that then finished this chapter. Also, I finished writing this chapter Wednesday, it has been just a matter of finding enough time to get on the computer and type it. At the moment this story is my first priority, but I do not know when I will be updating again.
Anyway, I apologize, but there is some cursing in this chapter on Hige's part (given the circumstances, I think it is justified). I am particularly proud of this chapter. I think it is one of the best-written ones I have done so far (with a some-what cheesy/rushed ending), even if it did make me cry to write. But never fear! It will get happy, promise.
My reviews are dwindling! Thank you to those of you who did review. Here ya go!
Kazehana 10: Don't worry! Kagome is coming, I swear! I'm glad you like my story so much! Thanks!
Nikkler: I'm glad you found nothing wrong with the paragraph in chapter 8. I know it is a bit rushed, but at this point I was going more for the awkward "save me" rather than "love me!" I figure it can expand now that they are out of the cell. Ya know, get Tsume to actually LIKE her, get them out of the castle (I swear sometimes I think I should end it after they get out then make a sequel, at the rate I'm going this will be 100 chapters long!) and let romance flow. Lots of advice needed and wanted though (I know when I'm in over my head). As for a lemon, that would be great. I'd be more than willing to offer advice for your stories as well. Oh, glad you liked my new chapter. Once again, assistance is liked. I try to have the chapter titles have something to do with the chapter, but I had a hard time with this one. Thanks for everything!
i love athrun: Thanks, I will already!
Kagome1015: You think it should be Inuyasha? We'll see… Thanks for your opinion. Doesn't technology stink when it doesn't work? Thanks!
Also, sorry for any typing errors, I was in a hurry. OK, on to the story!
Chapter 11: Sleeping Beauty and the Mourning Dove
Toboe marveled at the lavish extent of the castle he was in. The whole place seemed to be carved from marble of varying colors.
"This place is really neat," he whispered excitedly.
"Shh!" Luna giggled, enchanted by the beauty of the castle as well. "Whoever built this place sure had taste, just look at those windows!"
"I know. I think it's neat how you can tell where the original castle ends and the Noble's fortress begins," Toboe said.
"I think it's sad that such beauty was tainted. Sesshomaru, who built this place?" Luna asked.
"My father," he answered. "Now, please, we do not want to be caught, we don't need any more rescue missions than necessary." The two pups then fell silent, occasionally glancing at each other out of the corner of their eyes as they followed Sesshomaru. He quickly dodged to a corner and pushed, revealing a secret passageway.
"Get in, quickly," he ordered. It appeared as though the passages had gone undiscovered by the Noble's forces for the 200 years they reigned. A layer of dust covered the floor and there were cobwebs everywhere. The three crept down the passage, carefully pushing cobwebs aside, stifling sneezes and Luna and Toboe occasionally giggled as the dignified Sesshomaru pulled a cobweb off his face.
'Maybe Rin ended up in here,' Sesshomaru thought, images of the small child running, terrified through the secret passages she so loved forcing their way into his mind.
"Stop here," he ordered. Sesshomaru then turned to the wall he was standing in front of. He pushed lightly and the wall opened slightly. He looked and felt for a presence in the hall on the other side, but found nothing. He pushed the wall open further and stuck his head out. Still, nothing.
"This is the closest this passage will bring us. Come, I will keep guard," said Sesshomaru, leading Luna and Toboe out of the passage, down a hall, and around a corner. There they found a single wooden door. It turned out to be a rather large walk-in closet, full of sheets, towels, and various other linens.
"Collect what you think wee might need, and hurry," Sesshomaru ordered. Toboe and Luna ran in and did as they were instructed, gathering various sheets but trying to keep from hindering themselves.
"That's enough, let's go before the guards find us," said Sesshomaru. Toboe and Luna adjusted what they had and ran out ahead of Sesshomaru, finding their way by following their own scents.
"Shh, there are guards coming," Kiba warned. All whispers were silenced as the wolves waited for the guards to pass and Blue covered Tsume's mouth, doing her best to stifle his moans of pain. The soldiers passed quickly and everyone breathed a sigh of relief at narrowly escaping discovery yet again.
"Is it me, or have they started patrolling through this area more now?" asked Mizu.
"They probably have upgraded security. I doubt they believe for a second that whoever left all those carcasses we've been leaving behind has left the castle," said Aurora.
"Which means we have to be extra careful to get out of here as quickly as possible," said Kiba.
"Shh! Listen…" a series of soft patters could be heard coupled with a steady clicking sound could be heard approaching their hiding place. Hige leaned out over the edge to see what was coming. A large shadow loomed from around the corner, quickly growing. He took a quick whiff of the air around him.
"Good, their back," he whispered. Sure enough, Luna, Toboe and Sesshomaru emerged from around the corner, Luna and Toboe carrying white sheets. Sesshomaru took a pup in each arm and flew them up to the ledge.
"How is everyone?" Toboe asked.
"Fine, bloody, but fine," Blue answered. Those not badly injured quickly got to work tearing the sheets into long strips for bandages. Then they patched everyone up.
Tsume was slowly receding into his comatose state, moaning in pain as he did.
"Tsume?" Luna whispered. Tsume had lost, and was still losing, a lot of blood and he was starting to get a fever. Everyone anxiously watched him, afraid of what would happen if he didn't come around soon.
"Tsume, you have to wake up now, please Tsume," Toboe whimpered.
"Great, now what are we gonna do? We can't just leave him here alone, but if we're gonna wake this Kagome person we have got to go now," said Manch, getting grump and fed up with the world in general.
"I'll stay with him. Running from guards for dear life just isn't my style," Hige offered.
"Me too. I'll stay as well, just so that there is someone here who isn't injured," said Toboe.
Within ten minutes that will not be necessary. Toboe looked at the emotionless mask Sesshomaru called a face.
"He's still bleeding," said Blue.
"He lost a lot of blood before we got here too," said Mizu.
"I think his temperature is going down," Aurora observed, but did not look pleased.
"He's so gray," Luna noticed.
"Kiba," Toboe whimpered, seeing what was happening to his idol. Kiba did not respond, instead watching the man in front of him.
"Sesshomaru?" the pup turned to the ice prince, met by another emotionless brick wall. "Tsume?"
Tsume was vaguely aware of the people around him, but the pain going through his body captured most of his attention. He could hear voices that seemed a million miles away, calling his name.
'I feel so weak, what's wrong with me?' He couldn't move, and it was starting to get difficult to breathe.
'My chest feels so tight…help me, someone…help…' A sound cut through the pain, through the half-voices trying to force their way through the fog in his brain. The darkness around him began to lift as the sound became clearer and more focused, giving way to the sorrowful image of Cheza. The broken flower maiden offered up her song, filling Tsume's thoughts, caressing him and comforting him as though he were a child. When a single, moist diamond slipped down Cheza's face, Tsume felt the urge to reach up and brush it away. Her song hit its sorrowful climax and Tsume felt he had never been more at peace.
'Tell the runt, I'm sorry I couldn't take him to Paradise…' Tsume thought, somehow knowing Cheza could hear him. Tsume then let go, resigning himself to fate, smiling a sad smile as he was claimed by oblivion.
"Tsume…" It was a breath on the wind, a single word that contained a world of meaning. Cheza shed the only tears for the disillusioned warrior. Toboe felt guilty for that, being in a state of mind beyond grief, beyond tears. He looked over at Sesshomaru who seemed to be looking just beyond Tsume's body at something only he could see.
"Come, let us go to Kagome," Sesshomaru said. Hige glared at him.
"How can you be like that? How can you be so cool and calm when a man just died? Let's go? Lets go?! He's dead you jackass!" Hige yelled, not caring how much unwanted attention he could be attracting. He could no longer see the dark, cursed castle filled with danger. All he could see was a cold, unfeeling Sesshomaru standing before a dead Tsume.
"We are wasting time. Leave your friend here, we will retrieve him later," said Sesshomaru, apparently unfazed by the outburst. Hige's anger seemed tangible, but Kiba intervened before Hige could say something he might later regret.
"He's right. We need to get out of here and take care of Naraku. We'll take care of Tsume later."
Hige was obviously displeased with this decision, but decided it would be best to drop the subject for the time being. Manch covered Tsume with his jacket and the pack solemnly left the ledge, and their friend.
Sesshomaru had led them to another secret passage without incident. Everyone was silent, but each knew better than to think it was to prevent discovery. Toboe felt like a kid as he found his tears that now flowed freely down his cheeks.
It'll be all right, Toboe. For once, Toboe tried to ignore the voice, too focused on his own thoughts to bother with someone else's as well.
Sesshomaru traveled to the front of the group when they reached their stop. He repeated his slow process of opening the door and checking for guards before letting anyone else out.
"Follow me," he ordered, guiding them expertly through more hallways. These halls seemed to be where the Nobles lost interest in redecorating which was just as well. It was too beautiful to destroy. At one point the group found themselves passing through a set of elaborate wooden doors and then outside traveling down a hallway that's left wall was archways leading out to an intricate moon garden. Nature had taken over, giving the garden a wild, desperate beauty the likes of which could only be found in Paradise.
They were back inside quickly heading towards the warmth that was growing in their hearts.
Do you feel it, Toboe?
Yes, what is it? Toboe did not receive an answer. Instead, they picked up the pace.
"I'm surprised we haven't seen any guards yet," Mizu commented, unable to tolerate the silence any longer.
"Shh! You'll jinx us!" Manch snapped.
"This side of the castle is unused and sealed. We bypassed the seal in the hidden passage," said Sesshomaru.
"Oh," said Blue. Silence settled over the group once more. They turned down another hallway, this one seeming to be an art gallery of sorts. The walls were covered with grand portraits, each one grasping the heart making the viewer gasp.
"These are all people from my family and people of importance from the time," Sesshomaru informed them. Toboe stopped at a portrait of two young men who looked a lot alike, but very different just the same. The one was obviously Sesshomaru, but the other looked younger and had dog-ears on top of his head.
"That is my half-brother, Inuyasha," said Sesshomaru, answering the unasked question.
"What about this?" Hige asked, standing in front of a larger picture. In the painting was two demons, one being Inuyasha, the other was a small kitsune, a monk, a demon exterminator with a small cat-like demon resting on her shoulder, and a woman who's eyes and smile seemed to capture the viewer and hold them to her heart. Just looking at her made it seem as though it would all be all right, whatever it all was.
"Those are the Jewel hunters. The kitsune child is Shippo, the silver-haired one is my half-brother Inuyasha again, the monk is Miroku, the demon exterminator is Sango and her pet is Kirara, and the miko is Kagome," said Sesshomaru.
"That's them?" Hige breathed, awed at the power they exuded, even through paint, dust and centuries. Sesshomaru reached forward, placing his hand over Kagome's heart. He closed his eyes and muttered something, then pulled his hand away. The painting had changed with Kagome now holding a pink jewel in her hand. Sesshomaru once again reached forward, this time seeming to grasp the painted-on jewel and the painting seemed to vanish, leaving in its wake a new, clean set of stairs. Sesshomaru did not bother to say a word to anyone, instead just walking up the stairs, knowing the rest would follow.
At the top of the stairs was the most intricate wooden door yet, carved with a large knot design with two women standing back-to-back with an orb above their heads in the center.
"Behind this door is a room removed from time. Within that room lies the miko, Kagome. Remember, you are entering the presence of greatness. If it were not for her, we would probably not even be here to have this conversation." Sesshomaru started to open the door but suddenly stopped as though listening to something inside. He then decided to finish opening the door. For a moment nothing happened. Then…
"SESSHOMARU-SAMA!" squealed the blur that shot out of the room and collided with Sesshomaru's legs. Everyone looked in shock at the small black-haired child clinging desperately to his legs, then to the small toad with a staff that ran out after her.
"Sesshomaru-sama! You survived! Well, of course I knew you would, but that's not to say I wasn't concerned! I mean, OH, I was so worried!" the toad-demon exclaimed.
"Jaken, what are you doing here?" Sesshomaru asked, voice as emotionless as ever but eyes betraying the joy he felt for having the two in front of him back at his side.
"You told me to take care of Rin, so I decided when the castle was attacked that it was my duty to protect her, so I brought her here and we've been here ever sense," Jaken exclaimed.
"You mean you ran from battle?" asked Blue. Jaken was outraged by the accusation.
"No, it would indeed pain Jaken to leave my side," said Sesshomaru, now holding the small child. "This is my servant Jaken, and my ward Rin," Sesshomaru introduced.
"Wolves?!" Jaken asked, outraged for some unknown reason. Rin smiled, wriggled free and ran around, hugging everyone. She lingered with Cheza, who was fascinated by the child.
"We are wasting time," Sesshomaru announced, heading into the room. It was a large, elaborate room with a bed in the center. On the bed was the girl from the portrait. She was wearing a short green skirt, white knee-highs, brown loafers, and a white long-sleeved blouse with a green sailor-collar, cuffs and a red scarf, and she had long black hair.
"Kagome." On the wall above the head of the bed hung two swords. First Sesshomru took these down and placed them at his waist. Then he sat on the bed at Kagome's side, placing his hand over her heart.
"To control your wayward soul, my strength I lend, the jewel I awaken…" Kagome's eyes slowly slid open, showing their brown depths to everyone. She then slowly sat up and looked around. A brilliant smile suddenly found its way to her lips, lighting the whole room.
"Wow," someone breathed.
It took about thirty minutes for her to fully awaken, leaving everyone to marvel at her beauty and easy grace. Her eyes though were what stunned everyone. Even her eyes in the portrait did her no justice. Those eyes betrayed her every emotion and, like the picture, seemed to assure all that everything would be all right, she would see to that.
The group filled the three in on what had happened and what needed to be done.
Sesshomaru stood up and started to walk to the door. "Before we deal with Naraku, I have something I need to do."
Whoa! Another major event down! OK, before you swear to stop reading my story read the next chapter first. Some of you may have already figured out what Sesshy is up to, but we'll see. Sorry if Rin and Jaken being alive is kind of corny. I figured that if you have Sesshy you have to have Jaken. They are just the greatest character foils ever. I also figured that if Jaken saved himself, he would probably save Rin too out of fear of what Sesshy would do to him if he didn't. I had this big elaborate thing all planned out. Either Rin had been adopted by the Nobles and was the new one or they would learn she did have that happy life Sesshomaru had wanted for her and maybe even find her grave. But, you see what happened. OK, I still need to know you peoples opinions so review me and don't forget to check out my other story, "The Truth of it All" in the Inuyasha section. Thanks, review!