SORRY! Gomen gomen gomen! My computer crashed, FFN crashed and I was stuck in the city overnight because of a snowstorm! I'm sooooooooo sorry this was late! I'll make it up to you! I promise! Just tell me how! *bambi eyes*
I won't bother you with repetitive babbling, so here are the shout outs and the story!
Disclaimer: SORRY!
And yes, to everyone who asked, that was modeled after Dead Piro Day. Piro-san is my idol….
Shout outs:
SimplyTurquois, vegito044, Silver Magiccraft, Evil Bunny and Kirome: Thanks a bunch you guys! I'm happy to see that new and new people keep reviewing my story every week. It makes me feel really happy and really popular ^_^. I hope you stay with me to the end. And Queen of Spoons? But my friend is the Queen of Spoons. I guess they'll have to fight to the death now. And thank you Kirome. Since I want to be either a writer or comic creator, that's a very nice complement. And see, I wrote back. ~_^
Ronagu-chan: Eh, I like history but I suck at it. At least our teacher dances for our amusement *grin* The quotes of the week are the hardest to come up with out of the whole publishing of the story! Do you have any suggestions for what else I should put up? I might run out of them soon. And you have pictures to send? Do send! (ajtabbycat@hotmail.com)
InuSaiyanPrincess: Too damn long and too damn good? Well, at least I got the good part. And that's because it's not a story, it's a firkin' NOVEL! Between my readers and my muse I'm going to be hospitalized for gangrene in the fingers or something (unless I attack the compu for being stupid and have it blow up in my face instead) And the best story? Aw, go on (really, I love praise. Praise me!)
ChocolateEclar: Isn't Miroku so amusing? You just want to lock him up in a room with the Love Hina girls and a camera and have fun, wouldn't you? (me and my sister are twisted. Very twisted) Sorry I was late on the post. But look at it this way: Next Monday's closer so you won't have to wait as long! C'mon, be optimistic) And you really like this alternate universe as much as the real one? Considering that I integrated the real one into it, but I'll take it anyway!
STORY!
Chapter 29: Calm
A storm was coming. How fitting.
You could feel it in the air, the tension building up as the heavy air preceding the thick clouds rolled through the city. It was the kind of tension that gave people headaches and made certain bones hurt and muscles throb. The animals curled up in corners, hid under holes, dogs barked nervously, cats avoided windows. The birds were all missing, gone to find shelter from the coming rain. The air was thick with tension from both the land and the living.
The horizon was gone, vanished under the black cotton clouds as they moved steadily towards their destination, as if it had been predetermined. There were too many to count and they were all merging together, rolling like fat creatures lazily making their way across the darkening sky. Every once in a while a deep rumbling came from the distance, like one of the clouds roaring, heralding their existence and their power.
The spirits in the city sensed it too. Wanderers paused in their mischief and slumber and guardian angels kept a closer watch on their tasks with an uneasy look to the sky. Rumours were spreading as quickly as the heavy air and were as prominent as the black clouds hanging darkly in the sky. It was unnerving, the calmness, as not a single leaf was blown by a natural wind. Everything seemed to be waiting in the silence, in the calm before the storm.
Calm before the storm. How fitting, he thought again, leaning against the railing of the building's balcony. It was poetic in it's sense, that as everything living waits for the thunder and rain to pour down on them, so the spirits wait for the war to descend onto this plane. He smiled, red eyes glancing over at the thick, black horizon.
He stood up and looked over to the north, looking farther then he could see. He paused, as if listening to some unheard voice, and nodded before disappearing into the thick air. Work was to be done, in this precious time.
This… calm before the storm.
The watcher was not the only one who noticed the air around the city. Kikyou felt it too, as she stood on the corner of one street, watching the traffic. Even at this time of day the cars ran busily through the streets, of to destinations only they knew off. Who are these people and where do they go, Kikyou thought curiously. In only a few days of living again in this world she had already come to understand. Mortals. They were like insects, only harder to get rid off.
A small tugging began on the corner of her sleeve. She looked down to see a young child pulling at her sleeve, trying to get her attention. She crouched down to his level, gently plucking his hand off of her arm.
"What is it little one?" She asked as the boy looked at her with innocent confusion and curiosity. Children were the only ones with the right eyes, with the right connection to spirits. He could sense what she was, and what she wasn't, but he didn't know how to make sense of it. She patted him on the head and looked for his guardian angel. She spied it, a small child-like angel with a headband sporting tiny wings, sitting on a lamppost. It was watching her uneasily, as unable to make sense of her as it's task was.
"Are you lost miss angel?" The little boy asked suddenly. Kikyou looked at him with mild surprise.
"Yes." She answered softly, nodding. The boy seemed satisfied and put a hand on hers.
"Then you better start looking." He said as solemn as a young child could be. Then, seemingly finished what he had to do, he turned and waddled off to his mother who had just seemed to noticed he was missing. The boy's angel gave one last glance at Kikyou and then hopped down to the ground and followed after the boy and his mother, chatting amiably away with the mother's guardian, a seven tail weasel-like creature that sat on the unknowing woman's shoulder.
"So you are not completely evil then." A voice said behind her. Frowning, Kikyou stood up and looked at the speaker, the demon dressed in old, classic style , holding two fans. Kikyou recognized her in an instant and cursed the fact that there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.
Kagura smiled, as if reading her thoughts. "Annoying, isn't it? I'm surprised you haven't killed the girl yet." She crossed her arms and looked at the undead angel with curiosity. "After all, there's nothing stopping you."
"I am an angel, not a demon." Kikyou hissed. "A Guardian. Guardians do not simply go about and destroy lives for their own means. Not only is it immoral and unjust, it is completely prohibited."
"But your not a Guardian anymore." Kagura pointed out. "You're barely even an angel. You'll be nothing unless that girl dies before you. Unless that happens you'll both die prematurely, at the same time. Naraku made sure of it."
Kagura watched Kikyou's face, hiding her amusement. Naraku was right all along about this. It's almost as if he had the ability to see and predict the future and now everything was running along smoothly.
Kikyou frowned, seeing where this was going. "So Naraku's plan is that either I kill the girl, become a tainted angel and slowly poison Heaven from the inside or I don't kill the girl, we both die and he's free to do whatever he wishes because the only one able to oppose him is now gone forever."
The wind demon hid any shock she might had perfectly as she nodded. "That's precisely it. However, there is a third option that benefits us all."
"And what would that be?" Kikyou said, humouring her.
"The threeblood." Kagura said simply, waiting for it to catch on.
The angel frowned, remembering and realizing what Kagura meant. "A reconstruction of two-hundred years ago."
Kagura nodded, smiling. "Except this time you survive with all your powers and the threeblood dies. Humour Naraku for a while and when the time is right, destroy him as well."
"Mutiny?" Kikyou raised an eyebrow.
"I prefer to call it opportunistic."
Kikyou smiled slightly. "Except Inu-Yasha will be difficult to control. I've seen him with that girl." Her look darkened. "Even your corpse dance will have trouble controlling him."
Kagura's smile never flickered. "Kikyou-sama, I believe now is the time you learn of the entire version of that story…"
Kagome woke up suddenly, a heavy feeling startling her awake. She looked around to see Shippo sound asleep beside her and Inu-Yasha leaning against the wall, ears folded back as he looked out the window. Sango was asleep in the next bed and Miroku was sitting against the wall, also fast asleep. Kirrara was nowhere to be found.
"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome said, alerting the half-angel to look at her. "What's going on?"
"Keh." Inu-Yasha grunted with annoyance, looking out again through the window. The sky was darkening with the prominent storm and the air smelt stiff and stale. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. "The hell if I know. Look's like a big storm's coming." His ears stiffened suddenly and he looked at his task. "Hey, you sense anything?"
Kagome was startled for a moment from the question and then thought about it. "Um, not really."
"Damn." Inu-Yasha growled and swore under his breath, turning around to kick the wall beside Miroku's head. "Oi! Bouzo! Get up!"
"Sit!" Kagome immediately countered, gifting Miroku with a view of Inu-Yasha falling face first to the ground as the monk woke up. He blinked in confusion for a moment. "What did I miss?"
"Inu-Yasha woke up on the wrong side of the floor today." Kagome stated as her guardian pushed himself up. The noise had woken Shippo and Sango up and now the older girl was looking around, wide awake.
"Kirrara? Where's Kirrara?" She asked, looking at Miroku and then Shippo and Inu-Yasha for answers. While Shippo looked around the room curiously Inu-Yasha nodded his head in the direction of the window as he stood up.
"Went scouting. She should be coming back soon." Inu-Yasha said, shaking out his sleeves and shooting a glare at Kagome. Kagome glared back in response as Inu-Yasha continued. "Something ain' right outside so she went to check it out."
"What's going on?" Shippo asked, looking worried. "Inu-Yasha, you sense that too, don't you?" He glanced over at Kagome, his tail quivering. "Kagome?"
"What's wrong Shippo-chan?" Kagome asked in concern, picking the small angel up. Miroku and Sango also looked worried and Sango looked out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of her guardian. Inu-Yasha frowned but it was impossible to tell the reason.
"Shippo-chan, what is it?" Kagome asked. Shippo chewed a nail and glanced quickly outside before shaking his head, as if he were unable to tell.
"It's too quiet." Inu-Yasha said and everyone looked at him. "It's not like Naraku to just send something to try and kill us and then ignore it when we beat him. He's up to something."
"Like what?" Sango asked and Miroku's look darkened.
"Like starting the war early." He said. "That just sounds like the cowardly move Naraku would do."
"You mean he's already started the war?" Kagome said. "But that's not right; I don't' sense any demons."
"He doesn't just use demons." Inu-Yasha muttered, glancing outside. He stiffened and his ears flattened as he glared out the window. Shippo perked curiously and Kagome sensed it as well.
"Inu-Yasha it's alright! Her name's N-"
"I know who she is." Inu-Yasha growled. "But that doesn't mean I have to like her."
"I see this morning's starting off well." Miroku sighed as Sango stood up and went over to the window to greet her guardian angel and Kirrara's guest.
Netsuna was sitting calmly on the windowsill with Kirrara beside her until the angel got up to greet her confused task. Kirrara gave a few unintelligible mews but the look on Sango's face gave the impression the explanation didn't help much.
"It's you again!" Shippo jumped up and pointed an accusing finger at Netsuna. "You pushed Miroku out the window!" He glared at her, trying to look menacing and not succeeding.
Netsuna grinned and glanced over at Miroku. "I see it didn't help much. Besides, he's fine now, isn't he?" Miroku and Shippo didn't seem amused. Not disheartened by their behaviour, or Sango and Inu-Yasha's cold glares, Netsuna turned to Kagome and nodded. "Hey Kagome, how are you? Did you take my advice?"
Remembering the last time the cat demon had visited her, and what happened afterwards, Kagome blushed. Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Inu-Yasha (since he was asleep the entire time Netsuna was thereand has no idea what she's talking about) all looked confused and at Kagome for answers. Kagome decided the best way was to keep quiet and she just shook her head, as if she didn't know what the demon was talking about either.
Inu-Yasha didn't like being left out of the loop and decided the change the subject. "What do you want?" He snapped at the demon. The cat didn't seem to be fazed and she just jangled her jewel-laden cat ears with amusement and a wry smile.
"I want a pony, ten million of the highest currency on this planet and a really attractive servant." She said, then added gleefully, her green eyes twinkling as she clasped her hands together in mock joy and surprise. "Why? Are you Santa?"
Inu-Yasha didn't look happy.
Kirrara meowed and Netsuna glanced at her, seeming to remember why she was here in the first place. She nodded and turned the to the group. "Actually, why I'm here is because I've been told to go get you. You're supposed to…" She paused, trailing off, eyes blanking for a second. Before anyone could raise a question she shook her head and looked back at them. "Sorry, I, uh, couldn't remember the name. It's the centre of the city where you're wanted to be, by the time this storm starts. Then something will happen."
"And who is this message from?" Inu-Yasha asked. Netsuna shrugged in reply. "Dunno, they were all shadowy and stuff."
She glanced at the sky and flicked her tail worriedly. "I have things to do before the war starts guys. I don't know who wants you or why but it might be an ambush, so be on your guard. It's a pretty suspicious message if you ask me." She frowned. "I don't know where the centre of the city is, but that's a bad omen. Be careful." With that she pushed herself off the windowsill and disappeared.
Everyone looked at her empty space and then at each other, all thinking of whether they should take her advice and directions or not.
"I don't trust her." Shippo said flatly, sitting down with his arms crossed.
"I don't think any of us do, gaki." Inu-Yasha snapped back. "But if it's from Naraku, we don't have much of a choice, do we?"
"And she didn't try to support us or anything but she warned us about it. So it might not be a trick." Miroku pointed out. Shippo gaped at him. "Who's side are you on? She pushed you out a window!"
"I can fly." Miroku shrugged and Shippo sighed with frustration.
Inu-Yasha sighed. "Still, as much as I'd hate to listen to that stupid cat, we don't have a choice and she's probably telling the fuckin' truth anyway."
"Inu-Yasha…" Kagome said warningly. "Your language."
Inu-Yasha glared at her but said nothing. "Let's go."
Bankotsu smiled at his reflection in his Banryu sword, polishing every last inch of the giant blade. In the room the rest of his team was doing the same, working on their own special weapons for the upcoming battle, all inwardly excited for the war.
Jakotsu was the only one not working on his weapon, instead helping two of the other members out, the large, heavily operated on Genkotsu and the pale Suikotsu. Jakotsu was explaining to them what he had seen, briefly, in the new and improved mortal plane and was also helping install better weapons as they worked.
"Ah, there will be blood tonight, brothers." Bankotsu said, standing up. Even dead his back was stiff from sitting crouched over his weapon all day. He held the Banryu sword in one hand and swung and slashed it experimentally.
"How kind of Naraku to give us full leave of Hell on the night of the Third Strike." Another Shichinin-tai member smiled. "Tonight will be quite memorable."
"You mean when we eliminate the weak demons and overthrow one of the Lords while his army is off doing something else?" Bankotsu grinned. "I'll call that one memorable."
Renkotsu nodded. While he held no weapon in his hands it was obvious that he too was preparing for the Seven's night to shine. The painted and spike-haired member fought with his strength and his hands and weapons were weapons to him.
"But remember Inu-Yasha-kun is mine!" Jakotsu claimed and the other two members beside him shook their heads with amusement. Bankotsu laughed. "Well, I suppose we should be staking claims now, shouldn't we? Who wants who?"
"I want the wolf." Renkotsu stood up with a dark expression. "Or his son for that matter."
"It matters not to us." Suikotsu said from beside Genkotsu, who nodded. "But let me claim the Reborn girl and Genkotsu may have the fox if he wishes."
"I lay claim to Sesshoumaru." Hissed the sixth member, a hunched figure wrapped in cloth. "Repayment."
Bankotsu nodded, strapping his sword to his back. "And the claims are made. Remember! We can not kill one claimed by another. That's unsportsmanlike."
"And who do you claim, Ani-ki?" Jakotsu asked curiously. Bankotsu smiled and tapped the side of his nose.
"That's my secret."
The hall of Sesshoumaru's army was a flurry of organized activity, as generals and soldiers began grouping in their formations, working madly as they checked and rechecked armour, tested weapons, went over battle tactics one last time. Sesshoumaru himself watched all of this on the grounds as he stood high up in the master's roost, a specific area designed for this exact purpose. Soon the pandemonium calmed down and ceased entirely as the army had formed itself into five divisions and ten separate groups; Alpha to Gamma and the fifth called Home. Each group was divided into two halves, one strengthened in defending and the other in attacking, and each had four specialized quarters. The army numbered close to a million soldiers, all trained and most hardened soldiers. They belonged to the army of the Key of Power for a reason.
Sesshoumaru watched them, dressed in his own battle armour. His old, aristocratic outfit was gone; it was now replaced with a short cloth over his right shoulder and down his arm, as well as the mysterious tail-like article he always wore around his shoulder. The metal decoration covered his weakened left arm and attached to a chest plate that was patterned with the symbol of the Fourth Lord. His two swords hung by his side and he wore the decorative dagger made by the blacksmith on the other side of his hip. He wore little armour, not as a sign of stupidity or even of arrogance, it was a sign of his power and lack of fear.
The soldiers were all perfectly aware that they were being watched by Sesshoumaru and soon the kappa Mizuki finished his inspection and stood at the head of the army, nodding up to the Fourth Lord.
"Sesshoumaru-sama! Every single soldier here is ready and waiting for your command. We will not disappoint you my lord. The Fourth Lord's army will be victorious and we will reign mightily and all will tremble at our name!" He shouted out ritually and the army roared.
Sesshoumaru nodded before speaking. "Army of the Key of Power, we are called to prevent an apocalypse and destroy a traitor. The outcast Naraku has broken all laws and is attacking the weak and undefended mortal plane ahead of time, a cowardly move. I, Sesshoumaru, am the Fourth Lord of Hell and I have dealt with Naraku before. He is a coward but he has a silver tongue. Will the Key of Power let this outcast and traitor throw this existence into chaos? No.
"This has become our war." Sesshoumaru said, clenching his armoured fist. Even the most veteran soldiers would always fall for this seemingly act of passion and compassion. Soldiers were easily manipulated and that is why Sesshoumaru hated them. "Naraku has broken this treaty with us. We will destroy him and take his land. We will kill any of those joining with him and take all that is theirs. Anyone against us is food for our thirsty swords. And if we play our cards right, there will be many mortals souls on which to feast. This is our war. Let us take advantage of it while the angel's rules can do nothing to stop us."
The army roared in agreement and Sesshoumaru nodded to Mizuki, who was eyeing him with debatable respect. The kappa nodded back and turned to the army, raising his staff for silence.
"Sesshoumaru-sama has spoken!" He said. "Now…"
Sesshoumaru left, not hearing the rest of Mizuki's speech. He frowned as he entered the cold building. He hated war and he hated soldiers. He will be quite glad when this was over.
"Touching." The trespasser said from it's perch beside his door. Sesshoumaru gave no response. "Just remember our bargain."
Sesshoumaru eyed the demon coldly. "Leave now while I am still in a good mood."
The trespasser bowed and smiled. "Yes, m'Lord." It said before disappearing.
Sesshoumaru punched in the key lock and when into his room, stalking over to his computer in frustration. Rin looked up from her spot on the floor where she was playing with some of Sesshoumaru's old figures he had used for battle tactics before mortals had invented computers. "Sesshoumaru-sama, is everything alright."
"Rin, do not speak to Sesshoumaru-sama when he is trying to concentrate on the Third Strike!" Jaken snapped at the girl. Rin stuck her tongue out at him and Jaken glared at her.
"Jaken, do shut up." Sesshoumaru said, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration. "There is precious little time and I do not need distractions. Rin, could you go make some tea?"
Rin perked up. "Yes Sesshoumaru-sama!" She said, quickly running off. Jaken frowned and tipped over one of the soldiers the girl had been playing with, knowing any other type of destruction could result him in getting horribly mauled. He leaned against his staff and sighed.
"Here we are." The first demon said, eyeing the clouds as they towered darkly over the city. The streets were nearly empty as people hid from this terrible force of nature that loomed over them. They rumbled threateningly as a cold wind swept through the streets and buildings. "That calm is over."
The second nodded, watching the sky as the black clouds rolled over, giving out a tremendous thundering before slowly releasing their cache of water onto Tokyo. The demon leaned against the building's railing, the cold water quickly drenching it as it smiled. "Yes. And the storm has begun."
End Chapter 29
Again! I'm sorry! And there's no preview tonight but I'll re-post this tomorrow with a preview of chapter 30 if you want to check it out. Oh, and also! My website's (kinda) up! Not everything works and I still have to scan some things in but it's almost up! Hurrah!
Shout outs:
CorkyComp: Okay, yeah, not much happens in 28, sue me. Not much happens in 29 either but it gives you an idea of what's going on in the lives of everyone before the whole world gets screwed over (except Naraku 'cause you're not allowed to know what he's doing) And let's see YOU write a 5 page long chapter every day, plus school and work. Eh? Eh?
link no miko: Ah, so that's what you meant. I see now. And that's who Yuuhi-kun is? *squeals* Squee! I love him! So that's his name *scribbles it down for future reference* And I've only see a few tapes of FY because I've never really heard of it and I live in a dork town. But my friend's lending me her entire DVD collection… sometime… 'com Stephy I'm waiting…
I got Chobits on VCD's to. Chinatown baby, that's where it's at. Except there's too much Hello Kitty stuff… anyways, CLAMP is great. They are my idols. My dream is to go to Japan and join CLAMP. I dream too much. And I thick my fave CLAMP series is a toss up between Chobits and X (X is pretty but Sumomo's just so CUTE!) And there's about 4 or 5 Inu-games, it's just they're bringing the fighting one over to North America.
Red or green? I can't tell you that! A magician never reveals their secrets and an author never reveals their plot until their last chapter. It's an unwritten law! And yes, I typed the last bit quickly. Wanna know why? Because I DID put that M/S part in it for you, mostly because I needed to add more space, but yes, it was for you. Feel special and appreciate. Appreciate dammit *shakes fist*
Re-port tomorrow! SORRY!
~Ama