Disclaimer: If I owned it I'd already have the hottub.
Man! What a busy week for me indeed! I got DDR (finally) I wrote three tests, suffered through a terrible storm and now I'm moving! I can't believing it! I'm moving to a bigger house, in the middle of nowhere, but it has a pool, high-speed internet and a hottub! Anyone who wants to live with me, you're welcome. You and half my school.
Well, despite the busy week I managed to get Chapter 27 out, although there's probably a lot of typos in it. Sorry! I did my best and worked my hardest! I hope you enjoy it anyway! And please point out any typos to me.
Shout outs (sorry I can't get you all but some of them I just can't respond to and I've been busy. Full blow-out shoutouts next week! Promise!):
ditto: I watch Chobits. I own Chobits. I LOVE CHOBITS! It's my favourite CLAMP series of all time! It's so wonderful! I want a male Persocom, particularly one that looks like Sesshoumaru! Yeah, and D was my first vampire I ever saw. We love him so. And I watched the X movie first. All that cramped into 45 min. BAD idea (and too bad there aren't any pics of Sesshoumaru in a business suit, ne?)
Corkycomp: Yay for reading and reading and reading until you get there! That just rules! I'm glad you love my sotry so much! Whee! And I always update every Monday night at 9, although it may differ since my computer sucks and I have dial up and everything's wacky. But it'll be better soon! (I hope)
Link no miko: Curtain rod wars! Very good for fun, very bad for health and walls. And what's wrong with Netsuna? To tell you the truth, she's based after my best friend. Oh well, I guess that means my plan's working. And I stole that quote from Lion King, except I modified it a bit. You noticed that or did you just like it? And Vivi's so cute, while I named Zidane Zorro 'cause I thought it suited him better. And don't get mad at me, my sister named Quina Quin Qui-gon! How terrible is that (although I'm not sure who it's insulting) and Zelda's a great game! Long live the chickens! And the Link song by Rabbit Joint! Whee! Not to mention the chocobo remix. And AS manga! *races off*
And now, on with the show!
Chapter 27:
Brother
"I don't care if you meant for it to happen or not. All that matters now is it did."
"I said I was sorry!"
"That's not the issue now. We're going to have to find some way to work around it."
"I guess I did my job a bit too well, eh?"
"Listen, we're not here to discuss your ups and downs in this. We knew that this was inevitable, we just didn't expect it so soon."
"Yeah, sorry. But what about before and all that…?"
"History's a dependable, not a definite. There have always been some changes. You just have to learn to accept them and work around them. Flexibility is part of our job."
"You're right. Besides, I've already come up with a backup plan."
"So have I and we'll be using mine this time."
"Psh. Fine."
Sango smiled warmly as she waved to Kagome, the girl and her guardian angel landing on the apartment building rooftop. Inu-Yasha dropped Kagome off and glanced around warily before turning to his companions.
"Well?" He said gruffly, crossing his arms. "What the hell are we doing? We only have one day left, plus today, until the invasion and we're screwed to hell. It doesn't help that I have some very bad news."
Both Sango and Miroku looked worriedly at each other. In Netsuna's tale last night she mentioned a quick and easy fight that Inu-Yasha had won speedily, nothing of trouble. Now they could see that by Inu-Yasha and Kagome's faces that something was very wrong indeed.
Inu-Yasha frowned, not liking the looks that Sango and Miroku were giving each other. When they looked at him, with expectations for him to continue, he nodded and began speaking again. "In my dad's time there was once a group of ruthless and powerful humans called the Seven or the Shichinin-tai. They had all the powers of demons without a single drop of demon blood in them and killed everything in their path. They were eventually caught and killed by humans, but twenty-five years after that Naraku brought them back to life. My dad did pretty short work on them, with some help, but they still put up a hell of a fight and the leader almost did him in."
"And now Naraku's brought them back for a third time to defeat you." Miroku finished and the angel nodded.
"The Shichinin-tai are alive again?" Shippo squealed from his perch in Kagome's arms, where he had flung himself when the girl first set foot on the rooftop. "I remember them from my pa's stories!" He opened his mouth to blurt something when he paused and looked thoughtful. "Didn't one of them like your dad?"
"One of the Shichinin-tai was a girl?" Sango asked as Inu-Yasha's ears turned red. When the dog-eared angel shook his head Sango caught on and blinked in surprise, while Miroku coughed politely to hide his laughter. Kagome just smiled, trying to imagine one of Inu-Yasha's opponents hitting on him. She could only picture the temperamental angel's reaction; it would most likely involve a lot of cursing.
"Well, what are we going to do?" Inu-Yasha grunted, trying to change the subject. Everyone nicely complied as Miroku shrugged.
"We received word last night from Kaede-sama." He said, glancing over at Sango who nodded in agreement. "She told us that the best thing we could do right now would be to stay quiet and just survey the area for any rogue demons."
Inu-Yasha gave another grunt, shrugging carelessly. "Fine. Kagome, do you sense anything?" He said over to his task.
Kagome gave a little jump, startled by the sudden question. Ever since the previous night in the hotel Inu-Yasha had been edgy and irritable; she didn't know whether it was because of what happened or the fights he had bring through. She wondered if this was just his way of showing affection, by being perfectly miserable the next morning, or if he was angry at himself for actually letting some emotion show through. Either way it was one hell of a kiss for her first… Not a time to think about it, she reprimanded herself and closed her eyes to concentrate.
"I sense a few things," She said after a moment of silent thought. "Over in the north area. It's hard to tell though because of all the people and their guardians, but I think there's some small things in that direction." She pointed in the direction she indicated. Everyone followed her gaze and Kirrara suddenly let out a mew and Sango smiled.
"That's my old neighbourhood, just north of here." She explained to the rest of them. "I'm actually happy that we can go there. It'd be nice to see my family again." She smiled sadly as she looked back over there and Kirrara glanced up at her then at the suburbs. Kagome felt worried as she watched the two of them. Kirrara didn't look nostalgic like Sango did. She looked concerned.
"So then let's go!" Kagome said, clapping her hands and nearly dropping Shippo, who clamoured up to her shoulders. Everyone looked at her and she smiled, trying to break the gloomy mood she could see forming. "It's Sango-chan's old neighbourhood and we have some demons to get rid of anyway! Why don't we go?"
"I agree, Kagome-sama." Miroku nodded. "Besides, I would like to see Sango-chan's old neighbourhood as well."
"Don't even think about it."
"I wasn't going to do anything."
Kagome smiled as Sango gave a warning glare to Miroku and the monk held up his hands in feigned innocence. Inu-Yasha snorted. "Are we going or not?" He said irritably.
"Inu-Yasha, what got mixed in with your breakfast this morning?" Miroku asked with a knowing smile. "Or did you not get enough sleep last night?"
Both Inu-Yasha and Kagome blushed pink and Shippo cocked his head at their reactions. "Kagome?" He asked, tapping the girl's head. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing Shippo-chan." Kagome said, picking the fox-child off of her shoulder and smiling warmly. "So, let's go now, ne?"
"Sure thing, Kagome-chan." Sango nodded and Kirrara, almost reluctantly, transformed into her larger size. Sango and Miroku got onto Kirrara's back while Kagome once again was picked up by her guardian, Shippo sitting on her shoulder. As they took into the air, Kagome tapped Inu-Yasha's shoulder.
"What?" He said briskly. Ignoring his bad temper Kagome leaned closer to whisper. "Have you noticed anything wrong with Kirrara-chan? She doesn't seem to be in a good mood today."
"Keh." Inu-Yasha glanced over at Kirrara, who had a poker face on as they headed north. He shrugged as he answered his task. "You remember how Sango died, eh? Kirrara probably just feels bad about returning there. I mean, you remember how broken up you were when you visited your family."
"That is true…" Kagome said. "Maybe we shouldn't go."
"Damn, be decisive once in a while." Inu-Yasha smiled as he growled that. "You've already made the decision to go there and we're going there. Besides this might do them both good to get back. It's been nearly half a year for them and unless we're lucky it might be the last chance Sango has to see her family."
"Don't say that!" Kagome whispered. "We're going to make it through this just fine."
Inu-Yasha said nothing, but flew on.
Bankotsu meticulously ran the cloth over his blade, smoothening and polishing it until it reflected the light from every angle and was sharp enough to cut through the air itself. No scratches, dents, cuts or any other blemishes were visible on the blade, making it the perfect war weapon and a beautiful but deadly thing to look at. He would work on the handle and hilt as well, shining them to perfection, but it was the large blade that took his time, that he spent the utmost care on.
The other Shichinin-tai were also perfecting their weapons, having nothing else to occupy their time as they waited for Jakotsu and Kyoukotsu's return from the mortal plane. Naraku was not a hospitable employer and had offered them the sole room for their purposes. They were allowed nowhere else in the castle and had only themselves for companionship. Bankotsu didn't mind, however. He and his group were used to the solitude, although not he captivity.
Suddenly the door opened the slim and strangely tailored form of Jakotsu walked through. The door closed silently behind him as the black-haired man sat down onto the cold floor, matching the looks his companions were giving him.
Bankotsu spoke first. "So Kyoukotsu…"
"Is dead." Jakotsu stated flatly, pulling out his peculiar weapon and beginning to clean the blood off of it. "And so would Inu-Yasha had I not been called back." He added with a sneer. "Ani-kiii!" He pouted in a piteous whine. "Why wouldn't you let me kill him?"
Bankotsu showed some surprise, glancing around at the other members. "I sent no order. It's Naraku who does the ordering on this part."
Jakotsu's features darkened. "But that…"
"A small error on my part." The hissing voice of the shadow Kuro-michi shocked even the most composed of the Seven as the shadow suddenly seemed to appear. "It was Naraku's order for you to return but I merely used Bankotsu-dono's name to get a faster reaction."
He's good, Kagura thought from her perch outside the door, listening in on the conversation for lack of better entertainment. After seeing Jakotsu's strange new taste in modern fashion, the long-lived demon was curious to see what other changes may of befallen the Shichinin-tai when they had been learned in the new ways of modern society. Except for Bankotsu's surprisingly more placid attitude and Jakotsu's new fashion, everything seemed as normal as before. It came close to being disappointing.
Inside the room Jakotsu snorted. "Hell with that, I could have killed Inu-Yasha-kun if Naraku hadn't interfered." The shadow made no reply.
Another derisive comment came from the room, a rough voice that Kagura identified with the brashest of the group, the grey-haired Renkotsu who, despite his arrogance, was a powerful fighter. "Naraku's just a pussy, that's all. Can't even let one of us destroy the threeblood. And why? Because he's fucking afraid of us, that's why! Unless he makes sure that Inu-Yasha knows we're coming so he can wipe out half of us first, Naraku's going to have to deal with the whole gang of us, wouldn't he? Then he'd be in shit."
Kagura almost smiled along with Kuro-michi, as she knew the shadow must be doing, in it's silent, secretive way hidden beneath it's shadows and black robes. "Naraku has grander plans, Renkotsu."
"Oh yeah?"
"Of course." The shadow demon said smoothly. "The soul contained by the Reborn girl is very strong and Naraku-sama wishes to use it for his plans. But first he must corrupted the girl, twist her until she is perfect for his moulding. He can no longer work with the Guardian Kikyou, as she is too random and has disappeared to the mortal plane. So instead he has settled with the girl, to use her instead for his purposes. When he is finished, you may destroy Inu-Yasha."
"Dibs." Jakotsu claimed immediately and Bankotsu made a noise similar to a chuckle while some of the other members grunted in annoyed tolerance of Jakotsu's familiar behaviour. "So when is this going to happen?" Jakotsu asked, ignoring his comrades.
"Soon." Kuro-michi said silkily. "Naraku works slowly but perfectly. Use the time you have to strengthen yourselves and your weapons. Learn the new ways of the modern civilizations. You will know why soon enough."
"Heh." Bankotsu said with half-sarcasm. "Just wait for master Naraku to tell us what he wants us to do and then we do it like obedient little dogs, right?"
Kuro-michi nodded, answering just as sarcastically. "And like obedient little dogs you will get your reward should you do your job correctly."
Bankotsu gave his small, calculating smile. "Alright, tell Naraku that we'll go along with this for now, if that's what he want to hear. But also tell him that we will not wait long. I thirst for battle and my Banryuu thirsts for blood. The same with us all."
Kuro-michi gave a short bow. "Of course, Bankotsu-dono." With those words it disappeared and reappeared outside the door, startling Kagura. "Naraku wants to see you." It said before disappearing again. Kagura regained her composure and frowned. Now what did Naraku want? She figured that Kuro-michi had purposefully had the conversation with the Shichinin-tai to clue her in. Getting the nearest demon she could find she placed it on watch order of the door as she left through the hallways to Naraku's domain.
She reached the door to Naraku's hall quicker than she would have liked and reluctantly tapped lightly on the wood. When she heard no reply she rapped the doorframe again, sharper this time.
"You may come in at any time, Kagura." Naraku's low voice came from the other side of the wall. Kagura opened the door and stepped in, not surprised at all when she saw what Naraku's plan was.
Naraku followed her gaze and nodded, giving that cold, disturbing smile. "Yes, one could guess that I, Naraku, am very set in the old ways. However if the girl is to be properly… cared for by then I do not wish to waste times being unpredictable. I may even frighten them off if they are superstitious enough." Kagura didn't like the look in his eyes as her master mused half to her and half to himself. "Relive the times in the past, only more disastrous."
Kagura felt she'd be asking for it if she reminded her master that last time he had lost.
Naraku looked back up sharply at her, as if he heard her thoughts. "Kagura, take the boy and leave. This Naraku wants no time wasted on anything idle. I only have one more day to prepare and the trespasser has brought me plentiful information from the other side. Now hurry."
Kagura bowed, not wishing to argue this time. If Naraku was right and everything did go according to history then soon she would be free.
"Oh Sango-chan, this place is beautiful!" Kagome gushed as she looked around the quiet suburbia. "And the trees! Why couldn't we have come here during the sakura season? You have so many blossom tress in this area!"
Sango smiled as she looked around at the small, white houses decorated by flowers and old and young trees with light leaves, looking like something out of a tourist book. "Yeah, I guess I forgot about it. My family and I used to move a lot, so it's hard to remember what each town and home looked like, especially after you die. Besides, it's not as beautiful as your shrine, Kagome-chan."
"All I have is a few old buildings and a tree that managed to be older then my crazy old gramps." Kagome scoffed. "But your place is great! What house did you live in?"
Sango frowned and shook her head, looking at all of the identical houses. "I… don't remember. I think it was number 56 but I…" She shook her head.
"Oh, that's so sad." Kagome said, suddenly feeling bad for bringing it up. "Sango-chan I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Sango smiled, waving her hand. "Kirrara and I will go look around. You guys don't mind, do you?" Kagome shook her head and after a meaningful glare to Inu-Yasha he did as well. Sango smiled and nodded. "Then Kirrara and I will be back soon. Ja." With that she walked down the street, weaving around and disappearing from view.
"So, where are these demons you sensed Kagome?" Inu-Yasha asked. Kagome looked around. "It's gone now. I didn't think about it but now that you mention it…" She blinked in confusion, wondering where the faint but unmistakable aura had disappeared to. Was she just going crazy?
"Well then, if there's nothing to take care of then I'll be off, if you don't mind." Miroku said and Kagome jumped. She had almost forgotten he was there, he had been so silent this morning. "Shippo, you don't mind staying here, so you?"
"If you're going girl chasing, have fun." Shippo said, sitting firmly on Kagome's shoulders. Miroku looked amused before bowing and turning to leave. "Well then, I'll be off." He said, soon vanishing through a house's yard.
"Shippo-chan, why didn't you go with Miroku?" Kagome asked. The tiny angel smiled warily and tapped his nose.
"I may be young but I'm not stupid." He said. "Miroku's been chasing a lot less number of girls since we met Sango and he's been paying a lot more attention to her. Plus I'm a kitsune; we know these things."
"Know what things?" Inu-Yasha asked. Kagome giggled.
"Inu-Yasha, you're so clueless. Miroku likes Sango-chan is what Shippo was saying." Inu-Yasha looked bewildered as Shippo nodded. "And Sango-chan likes Miroku back." Kagome added.
Inu-Yasha looked more confused. "You mean she actually likes that bouzo?" He asked, blinking as Shippo and Kagome nodded. "But she never seems to like it when he gropes her."
"Just like old times, right Kirrara?" Sango asked, looking at all the buildings. Kirrara mewed and nodded, trotting beside her task, in her smaller form. Sango nodded. "Yeah, nothing's changed." She stopped outside an old house with a tattered wooden sign outside of it. she smiled sadly. "It looks like even old Kiganawa-san is still going strong. Never actually believed her when she said she'd outlive me." The girl shook her head, sighing. "Let's just hurry this up Kirrara. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."
Kirrara nodded and started trotting faster to keep up with the girl when she glanced back. She slowed for a second, then sped up to keep in pace with Sango. Lost in her own thoughts, Sango didn't notice Kirrara's strange pause but she was aware enough to notice the footsteps behind her and lack of shadow in front of her. Someone otherworldly was following her and wasn't trying to hide it either.
"Kirrara, don't react but on the count of three we'll attack the guy behind us." She whispered. Kirrara looked surprise but then smiled and nodded. Sango fisted her hands and counted. "One, two, three!"
She turned around and kicked out but noticed Kirrara hadn't transformed or even done anything. That would only mean that Kirrara knew something Sango didn't and whoever was behind was a friend and not a foe. Sango's face changed immediately as she felt her foot make contact with the stranger's skull and she pulled back immediately. "Oh gomen, I thought you were someone else!"
Miroku massaged the bump on his head. "I would hope Sango or else you have some sadistic need to continuously injure my skull." Sango frowned, now realizing who it was as she put her weapon away. "Houshi-sama, you're the one that always provokes me." She moved away from him to prevent it again, seeing his hand rise.
Miroku smiled and shrugged, standing up. "Then I guess that would make me a hopeless masochist."
"Why are you here?" Sango asked, crossing her arms.
"My dear Sango, I came to see your home with you." Miroku protested his innocence. Sango rolled her eyes.
Kirrara, sniffed the air, keeping a mindful eye on the bantering young adults. She turned her eyes into the wind, sensing something old, new and troublesome. She growled. Not again.
"Houshi-sama, I'm not looking for my home." Sango said, not noticing her guardian angel's behaviour and turning around to continue walking down the street.
"Then what are you looking for?" Miroku asked, keep paced with the younger girl. Sango didn't answer for several minutes and Miroku gave her the silence as they walked down the street. Kirrara kept glancing around nervously, her double tail twitching warily. The air wasn't right at all.
"Here." Sango stopped suddenly, looking to her left. Miroku followed her gaze and a look of surprise came to his face. "The graveyard?" He asked curiously, watching Sango as she walked up the steps to the cemetery. Bewildered and curious, the monk followed her up, pausing to watch her stop and kneel in front of a pair of graves.
"Taichisa Kohaku." He read on the gravestone Sango was kneeling near. Miroku glanced over at the one closest to it. "And Taichisa Sango. This one is yours but the other?" It was a rhetorical question, one he didn't really except an answer for.
"My brother." Sango said quietly. "He was possessed and killed by Naraku. Naraku, who used him to attack my family… to hurt them and my neighborhood, just to kill me." She put a hand up the lightly brushed the stone of the grave. "He hurt all those people just to kill me. My brother's soul… gone forever. Because that bastard took it. I'm never going to forgive Naraku. Never." Her voice broke at the last word and she looked away, ashamed of her tears. She had vowed to never cry again, since that day. And she never would, until she had made the one who did this pay dearly.
"Sango, I'm sorry…" Miroku said softly, reaching to put an arm around her, to comfort her. Suddenly they were interrupted by Kirrara's hissing and growling, as they looked over at the frightened and bothered angel.
"What is it Kirrara?" Sango asked jumping up. Kirrara answered with a feline bark, transforming as soon as Sango gave her the power to. Pulling out her own weapon, Sango looked around fearfully as Miroku got ready. Were the demons that Kagome sensed here? Why now?
"Gah!" Miroku cried out suddenly, as a whipping noise wrenched through the air. Sango looked over, seeing the blood seeping into his clothes from the wound in his shoulder. Wincing, Miroku leaned on his staff to stay upright, trying to find his attack.
The whipping noise came again and again, an invisible blade missing, nicking or wounding them badly. Whoever this was, they were playing with them, toying with their lives. Sango held on to her Hiraikitsou, trying to find their assaulter. Kirrara protected them as much as possible wit her fiery barriers and thick fur, but something was making her reluctant, something made her not want to attack their attacker.
"Sango, look out!" Miroku cried suddenly, knocking the girl to the ground. She heard a ripping noise as the blade ripped through the back of Miroku's clothing, spraying blood. With a weak smile at her Miroku pushed himself up again, trying to find their assailant. Sango lay there, bewildered, confused. What was going on?
She suddenly saw the sickle-like blade whipping through the air like a wild animal, tamed only by the chain attached to it's wider, duller end. Kirrara leaped forward and grabbed the chain in her fangs, pulling it forward. Miroku took the opportunity to run forward to meet whoever was on the other end that Kirrara was bringing closer.
What happened next was like slow motion to Sango. She saw Kirrara pulling the chain taunt and dragging whoever was on the other end closer. She saw Miroku run up, bleeding and cut, to their attacker. She saw Miroku grab the young boy by his collar and start shaking him, then bringing up his staff to finish him off. She saw the boy retrieve his weapon from under Kirrara and prepare to strike Miroku.
"Houshi-sama, stop it! Don't hurt him!" Sango cried out suddenly. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't.
"Sango?" Miroku paused his blow, looking up. Then his eyes widened with shock before blanking as the boy's weapon dug into his chest and pulled out, trailing blood. Through her tears Sango saw Miroku slump to the ground and the boy turn to them, his eyes lifeless as he prepared to kill the girl and her angel in front of him. Sango was trembling. Her worst nightmare had come true. What was to remain buried had come back to life. She was to be killed by her own brother.
"Kohaku." She acknowledged him and stood up, preparing to meet her brother in battle.
End Chapter 27
Okay, I know, the end was horribly cliché. I'm sorry I wrote it fast so that you could read it. You want a non-cliché story, stick to the once-a-month ones, okay? I'm not a firkin genius here I'm just a teenage girl with a computer, imagination and a hottub. I can't wait until I can use it.
And last of all, but not least of many, here's the preview for the next chapter! It's short! Sorry!
Preview Chapter 28:
"Is this true?" Sesshoumaru glared at his first officer. The kappa Mizuki didn't look fazed at all but instead excited. He tapped his pronged staff on the ground twice before answering, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes or voice.
"Yessir Sesshoumaru-sama! Reports from all over the ninth realm of the mortal keys have indicated that Naraku is attacking ahead of schedule. Because of this action all laws indicate that we are allowed to begin war unconditionally!"
Sesshoumaru frowned. "I wasn't ready for this, not yet. Mizuki, go and gather troops Aplha and prepare them for full out defensive maneuvers in Tokyo. And fetch the trespasser to get my nephew. I'm going to need him in Hell after all."
End preview
Okay, okay, it didn't tell you anything! I'm sorry! Well, see you next Monday!
~Ama