Disclaimer: *evil laughter*
And it's another day in the world of Guardian Angel! I hate the Internet! My website's up and running, the everything works, except for the damn background! AGH! Anyways, if you wanna go check it out, the URL's at my main page so if you wanna go check it out, go have a look-see! I dunno how often I'll be able to update it, considering I was in bed all day today due to exhaustion, but I'll do my best! *stand Excel-like* Il-Palazzo-sama!
Shoutouts:
Moonbeam, thekiit, inuficcrzy, KevinEC: Was that really so cool? Eee, thankies so much! I feel so blessed! Thankies, thankies, thankies! And you'll know what happens to Sango, so don't worry! And I'm making no promises, so read on about the fates of the rest! And you like how I manipulate the story-line, eh? Well, that's good. And thanks for the tips on the T-shirts! And rabid Jaken clones? *shudders* I don't even wanna think about that.
Ayame: *is hit by the multiple deaths* Aaagh! I've been assaulted by a cookie-deprived ninja! I'm sorry for getting your name mixed up, but I just bought Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven (it is Heaven by the way) and now I know who Ayame is and I'm sorry for insulting you, sorry , sorry, sorry! But you can't kill me! I'm invincible! And I wouldn't be able to write another chapter, so it'd be your loss. And I think the angry readers far outnumber you. Plus, I have my own army of ninjas, led by my cat Ninja! So feel the wrath of Ama, my adversary! Feel the wrath!
Vold: Wow, that was quite the long review and gave me quite the chuckles in homeroom, let me tell you. I'm glad you like my story enough to write close to your own story in that size of a review. I have no clue where the ideas for the angels and strikes and the existences and keys and all that came from, so don't ask but I've had fun taking the Inu-Yasha original sotry and twisting it around. And my fic is really that recommended? Awesome! I'm glad I got you into guardian angels. Mine's Sesshoumaru. ~_^ *evil laughter* As for the hotel room scene from the Starlight chapter, the answer to your question about why Kagome hasn't mentioned it again is because basically it's the same as in the manga/anime: she thinks that Inu-Yasha's still all for Kikyou and just sees her as Kagome, second-rate copy who just happens to be his task. She pretty much thinks that hotel night was a one-time thing and that it won't happen again. Plus, it's hard to think about stuff like that when the apocalypse is about to happen around you. And more fluff is coming soon, so don't worry!
Chapter 34:
Bonds
The harsh wind blew fiercely over the mortal realm, whipping the rain around in the horrible storm. Power was down, nothing was visible and the tall buildings were just barely holding themselves up. The world was in a silent chaos, in a storm where they could do nothing. The mortals had no idea what was waiting outside in the terrible storm, had no concept of the war over their lives. The homeless mortals had been the first to be devoured. Although the hard-pouring rain said nothing of the details, tides were in the favour of one side in the war. But neither outcome would be in favour to the many lives that unknowingly awaited their fate.
Mizuki swore at his most recent cigarette, having gotten it to light for a brief moment before it faded out again. He was running out of fags again, and his lighter was starting to die. He squinted at the impenetrable wall of water, wondering if he should risk his life and title a third time to go get another pack from the abandoned convince store. He was beginning to reach a MacDonald's-size quantity of cigarettes in the pile behind him. Over a billion trashed; slight exaggeration, but the best comparison Mizuki could make as he tried to stay sane during this massively boring position. The outcome of the war had every bloody thing to do with what was going on with the threeblood and Naraku in Hell. Until then it was just a continuous matter of flipping a coin again and again.
The tune of the rain changed behind him and he turned to the demon, trying to look dignified despite his drooping hair, slightly smeared tattoos and overall wetness that heralded both his fight with Inu-Yasha and his recent smoke runs. Yet Mizuki held his spear proudly and did his best to look the shadowy demon down.
"Who the hell are you? And what the hell do you want?" He asked menacingly. The trespasser said nothing but watched him with it's red eyes, flickering dully in the poor light. Mizuki felt a bit nervous, trying to stare down a trespasser, but he did have an image to uphold and hey, it was something to do. He lifted his spear again. "Come on buddy, I may have until the end of the world but we both know it's gonna be soon, so I'd like an answer."
"Micky, I presume?" The trespasser said suddenly, almost as if a bit nervous of the three-pronged spear aimed right at it's heart, although the demon seemed perfectly calm. Mizuki raised an eyebrow.
"Micky? The hell, 'ain't nobody who calls me that anymore, 'xcept…" He paused and grinned. "Eh, so you're a friend 'o hers, are ya? Well, it ain't everyday one gets to see two trespassers. Course I haven't seen the old girl around today, but you get what I'm saying. And call me Mizuki. I hate Micky."
The trespasser gave the barest notion of a smile, although all features were hidden in the dark shadows of it's cloak. "I have a message, Mizuki. For you to deliver."
"Deliver?" Mizuki raised an eyebrow again and made a sweeping motion to the alleyway he was guarding, which was becoming quite flooded. "I'm a bit busy for that, aren't I? Couldn't you go ask a soldier?"
The trespasser paused. "They're occupied. Besides, you do have mortal technology, don't you?"
Mizuki's face was blank for a moment and then he grinned. "Ay, I see what you mean. Alright, fine then trespasser, what do you want?"
"Watch your manners first, I could always just kill you and go about my business. I'm only doing this out of generosity, not need." The trespasser hissed. "And secondly, the threeblood's group has reached the first gate. And they've lost a member."
Mizuki looked up from the cigarette he was trying to light. "Already? Fuck, that was fast. I thought these guys were the reincarnations or whatever of the first group."
"Reincarnations, not clones." The trespasser said smugly. "And it's only the first gate."
"Yeah, good point." The general nodded in agreement, the damp cigarette still hanging out of his mouth. "Now remember everything's gotta go with the deal. You guys promised, you know."
"I promised no such thing." The demon hissed in return.
Mizuki snorted. "You know what's funny, is that you're bitchier than the bitch trespasser. At least she's good enough to admit she's stupid. And a klutz, and a dork, and sexless, and absent-minded and pretty pathetic too…"
"My sister has many deterring disabilities." The trespasser muttered. Mizuki caught the remark and his eyes nearly bugged as he choked on his cigarette.
"Your fucking what?" He blurted. "You mean you guys actually have parents? Shit! Older or younger?" When the trespasser's red eyes glared at him the kappa grinned and raised his hands. "Hey, hey, truce I wasn't hitting on her. So younger, got it." The eyes narrowed. "Okay, okay! So what were we talking about? Oh yeah, the plan." Mizuki turned serious again. "We got a deal from… from your sister about the details of the plan. If your in this with your sis you'd better keep with the promise too, got it dark and broody?"
The trespasser made no reply but then nodded. "Fine, if you wish to go that way. I have other rounds to make before I return to make my next report. Is there anything I should know before I depart?"
"Well, two." Mizuki held up two fingers. "One, as soon as everything's finished at the second gate come and see me, seeing how our little girl's busy right now. And secondly could you light this for me? Cause I've been nearly six hours without a fucking smoke and it's driving me crazy."
The shadowy demon almost rolled it's eyes but took the offered cigarette and lit it, handing it back to it's owner. "Only one, but the rain won't extinguish it."
Mizuki was ecstatic. "Hey, thanks a lot man. And oh, just to tell you, you have really pretty eyes."
The trespasser muttered something and disappeared. Chuckling to himself the kappa general rummaged through his pocket, pulling out a palm pilot. He quickly began typing in a message, inhaling his cigarette with happiness.
Sesshoumaru-sama, everything's in place here. Don't have a bloody clue what's going on and all, damned rain from the angels, but nothing's tried to kill me yet or has even come near this place, 'xcept your stupid nephew so maybe that's a good sign. And the trespasser's buddy came for a visit. Seems our little girl has an older brother! Anyways, they've reached the first gate and, like promised, one of them's missing, presumed dead, giving them a greater will to fight, blah, blah, blah. Nothing else important but they're heading for the second gate and I've got a pretty good deal that I'll be getting an update every time they hit a gate. Lets hope little threeblood finishes wot his daddy started, eh? Oh, and give the shadowy one my wishes next time you see her. And tell her her brother's a dick.
-Mizuki
Sesshoumaru frowned as he read the email on his laptop and sighed inwardly, standing up. Immediately Jaken and Rin looked up curiously and simultaneously looked out the window to the harsh sandstorm that was battering the fortress. The demon Lord rubbed the bridge of his nose as he looked out at the near solid wall that disabled his gaze onto his lands.
"What's wrong, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked, walking up to the demon Lord and trying to see over the windowsill. Sesshoumaru shook his head and absently patted the girl's messy hair.
"Nothing Rin, everything's going exactly as planned."
Jaken's face lit up. "Ah, so they've reached the first gate already? I didn't know that whelp had it in him. Did he die?"
"No, one of the others has." Sesshoumaru said sharply. "The plan wouldn't work if he were dead, you fool." Jaken cringed under the harsh criticism. "Yes Sesshoumaru-sama, you're right."
"Who's dead, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked curiously. "Inu-inu and his friends?"
Sesshoumaru made no reply for a long moment until Rin tugged on his belt. "Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"It's nothing Rin." The Fourth Lord said in an attempt to silence the girl. Jaken hobbled up to the other side of the demon lord and tried to dignantly look out the window, but gave up and accept his fate as being so short. "So what happens now, Sesshoumaru-sama?" he croaked.
"Now they reach the second gate," Sesshoumaru recited, as if seeing this all outside. "And they will either grow stronger or will fail miserably, leaving it up to I, Sesshoumaru, to defeat Naraku."
The area surrounding the second gate looked even more ominous than the first, with the dozen of jagged rocks, boulders and the rising cliff-face that everyone had the suspicious feeling they had to climb next. A wind was beginning to pick up, whistling eerily through the jagged décor and Kagome shivered.
Inu-Yasha stepped ahead of the group and sniffed the air warily, the wind whipping his hair around and blasting him with sand particles as he jumped above the labyrinth of rocks. Turning his ears to catch in all sounds, he finally nodded and jumped back down.
"Couldn't see, smell or hear anything except rocks, dust and wind, so I think we're safe." He glared at the cliff. "I'm guessing Naraku will probably attack us when we're halfway up the mountain. Kirrara, do you think you could carry Kagome and Shippo, keep them away from the cliff while we're climbing it?"
Kirrara nodded, giving a deep grumble and Kagome obediently climbed onto the feline angel's furry back, bringing Shippo with her. The group then began making their way through the maze of rocks to the cliff to continue their journey.
Kagome was the first to sense their follower, feeling a strange flicker of aura from behind them. When she turned to look she saw nothing and curiously glanced around, before turning back and shrugging. It felt too human to be a demonic attacker anyway.
Then she remembered the Shichinin-tai, the ones who had badly attacked Inu-Yasha. Weren't they pure human? Wouldn't that mean that Naraku could be using them for this very purpose, because then she and Inu-Yasha wouldn't be able to pick them up as easily? And there was still Kikyou, who Kagome knew was after the younger girl's blood.
Kagome looked warily behind again but still saw nothing. Sensing his task's nervousness Inu-Yasha, who was walking beside Kirrara, looked at Kagome curiously as she scanned the area behind him. Glancing back, and seeing nothing, the half-angel worriedly touched Kagome's leg to get her attention. Kagome snapped back to face him, emitting a squeak in shock before she realized what was going on and relaxed with relief, if not slight embarrassment.
Normally Inu-Yasha would have teased Kagome about the noise (after all he had often pushed things over or done startling things when she was alive just to hear the noise and laugh at the fact that she couldn't do anything about it because she didn't know he existed yet) but in a serious situation like this one it was no time for teasing. Instead he flattened his ears. "What's wrong?"
Kagome bit her lip. "I just thought I sensed something, that's all. But I'm probably just nervous."
"Better be a bit careful then just walking through here without a care in the world." Her guardian angel said seriously. "Tell me if you sense it again." When Kagome nodded her tried a grin. "And hey, cheer up. We'll beat Naraku's ass soon and then we'll just get back to the way everything used to be, okay?"
Kagome nodded slowly again. "Um, Inu-Yasha?"
"Yeah?"
"It's in front of us now."
Inu-Yasha lost his carefree attitude and his eyes narrowed. He quickly jumped up to one of the rocks and looked around. "Miroku, Kirrara, cat! We got company!"
The other three looked up and immediately got in ready positions, preparing for the attack. Kagome sensed five, no more like ten of them and she saw one shadow jump right across two boulders. Kirrara quickly jumped into the air where'd she could see their assailants easier. Shippo jumped off of Kagome's shoulder and grabbed a fistful of Kirrara's fur.
"Kirrara, we have to get out of here!" He shouted. The angel snarled in agreement and began flying towards the cliff as the others met with the demons.
Inu-Yasha began fighting off three at a time, cleaving through one and trying to survive the other two while using Tetsusaiga, not a weapon for close combat. Netsuna had five on her tail as she zipped through the rocks at a speed even faster than the shadowy demons, until she lost them. As the group of ninja-like attackers quickly made plans to separate to find her, the cat demon was in the midst of them, knocking three over and breaking a fourth one's neck. She quickly jumped on top of a rock to avoid the fifth's claws and hissed.
"How d'ya like that, eh assholes?" She growled, her green eyes flashing maliciously. "Hey dog, behind you!"
Inu-Yasha heeded the warning and ducked, as one of the black demons tackled another, giving the half-angel less problems. "Hey cat, I can take care of myself!" He shouted back to the hired guide before turning around to finish off the job with his signature move of the legendary Tetsusaiga.
Netsuna gave the irate dog-angel the middle finger before she got tackled by her own adversaries that she had been ignoring. As it dug it's claws in her shoulder Netsuna bit its wrist hard enough to feel the bones breaking. The other demons she had stunned tackled her but she smashed one's back open against a sharp edge of a rock outcrop and managed to get another off by flipping.
Unfortunately the move unbalanced her and she toppled over, giving the other two demons fair game. She managed to wind one with a powerful kick right in the solar plexis and began wrestling with the other, as they both tried to break each other's necks. Netsuna managed to push her opponent against the rock when she weakened her grip. Thinking it had won the demon pushed forward, only to meet the metal edge tip of Netsuna's tail end right in the stomach. In the five seconds of shock it took for the demon to register, Netsuna snapped the demon's neck and stabbed him a few more times with her tail, just for good measure.
Brushing off her hands expertly she turned around only to face the last demon she had forgotten about, holding a huge rock above it's head to crush her skull with. Before she had time to react the demon suddenly collapsed, bringing into sight Inu-Yasha, who had just finished a down stroke that had cut the black demon cleanly in half. He sheathed his sword and Netsuna grinned.
"So the puppy can take care of himself." The cat demon said with amused sarcasm. In the bat of an eye Tetsusaiga was out again and the tip was at Netsuna's throat, not even giving her enough room to gulp for fear of slicing her neck.
"Just because you're recommended doesn't mean I have to like you." Inu-Yasha growled. "Remember that." As quick as he had brought it out the half-angel returned his sword to it's scabbard and jumped up onto a rock to meet Kagome and Kirrara as the feline angel landed roughly on one of the rocks. As Inu-Yasha helped Kagome off the girl looked around curiously.
She then looked at her guardian angel, worry on her face. "Where's Miroku?"
Miroku leaned again the giant boulder, one hand applying pressure to his shoulder as blood trickled from the deep wound. This was very, very much not his day, he thought as she tried to catch his breath, looking around for his assailant. Separated, weakened and now fighting a demon he couldn't even see, much less defend himself against.
He didn't even know where he was, except that he was somewhere near the giant cliff. He could see a few black stones that stood out from the regular browny-gray, indications that he was near the second gate. That didn't really do him any good, considering the others could be anywhere. They'd probably spend a bunch of time looking for him but they'd never find him if he didn't get out of this alive and then they wouldn't be able to reach Naraku in time…
The end of the world and it's all my fault. Such a lovely thing to realize moments before your death.
A pebble suddenly rolled and clattered down some of the piled boulders, alerting the dead monk. He spun around to meet the shadowy demon's sword with his staff, trying to brace himself against his opponents full weight and momentum with only one arm, since the other was close to useless now.
He managed to tip his staff, pushing the demon off balance and sending it toppling to the ground. It rolled and landed on it's feet, pushing itself up to charge Miroku again. He blocked it's sword thrusts with his staff but it was pressing against him fast and hard and the pain in his shoulder, not to mention he was only human and not this freakin' fast in the first place, were slowing him down and soon the demon was getting nicks and cuts in, drawing more blood. Then the demon was gone, again, taunting him.
Miroku was really, really starting to hate demons.
His shoulder had stopped most of it's bleeding but now his stomach, arms and cheek had nice little cuts, all small and thin enough to hurt like a goddam bitch of a paper cut. Miroku winced as he caught his breath, trying to spot the demon in the shadows but unable to lock in on it fast enough. He tried to keep his back against the rock when suddenly it was in front of him. Trying to meet it in battle Miroku stumbled when the demon suddenly disappeared; then an elbow to Miroku's neck knocked him to the ground.
The demon dug it's foot under Miroku, flipping him over on his back and knocking the monk's staff away, sending it clattering over the hard ground. The demon took it's sword and stood over Miroku, as the monk waited grimly for his death. The demon was standing on the monk's cursed hand, to make sure he didn't use the air rip. It was all over. Miroku's opponent raised it's sword slowly, almost deliberately, then brought it down for the final blow.
And stopped.
Miroku had both his eyes closed squeezed shut, waiting for his death. When nothing came he at first thought he was dead, but the throbbing pain in his shoulder, side and hand told him otherwise. Curious beyond all sense of the word, Miroku opened one eye a crack and then both in disbelief at what he saw.
The assailant was standing over him, the sword a breath's away from his heart, the blade shaking in the other's hand. The demon clenched the sword tightly, trying to stop it's shaking, but Miroku wasn't stupid and could see something was wrong.
"I can't do it…" The assassin muttered under it's breath, almost heartbreakingly. "I can't… I can't… I can't!" The sword slammed down, inches from Miroku's ear as the demon collapsed to it's knees, head in it's hands. Confused by the demon's behaviour, not to mention the fact at it was still on him and wasn't exactly a light demon, Miroku did his best to sit up, bewilderment written all over him. "Just what…" He trailed off, frozen.
The demon had taken off it's face mask and was now looking at him directly. Miroku opened his mouth a few times but nothing came out. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe it and was trying to figure out if he was the luckiest or unluckiest ghost around.
"Sa… Sango?" He stammered. He didn't know what was stranger: that Sango tried to kill him or that she was now sitting on his lap. As happy as he was at this moment, Miroku wasn't just yet going to forget the little 'killing' part.
"Miroku, I'm so sorry!" Sango sobbed, putting her face in her hands again, her body shaking. Deciding now to forgive the killing part Miroku sat up and put his arms around Sango, drawing her close as she sobbed into his robes. "I didn't want to, I really didn't!" She cried. "But… he… there…"
"Trying starting at the start." Miroku said, desperately trying to focus past the fact that Sango was about as close to him as possible while still wearing clothing. Sango nodded and took a deep breath, trying to stop her tears.
"During the fight at the first gate I got swarmed by demons." She explained. "And then I blacked out, so I don't remember how I left the area. But I woke up here and…" She trailed off as she fought back the tears again. "Kohaku was there."
Miroku cringed, remembering Sango's mysteriously resurrected younger brother that had nearly killed him, Sango and Kirrara back at Sango's hometown. Sango noticed his reaction and relapsed into silence until Miroku nudged her to continue.
"Naraku was there too." She said, looking at him for another reaction. Miroku frowned. "What did he look like?"
"A taxidermist's nightmare, that's what." Sango almost snorted. "I couldn't see any of him except his bottom jaw, which looked human enough, but he was all wrapped up in fur and had a baboon skull covering his head and face. He introduced himself, that's how I knew who it was."
"The first thing he did was have Kohaku cut my boomerang in half. Then he told me that he was going to do the same thing to me and all of you.
"I swore at him a bit but I couldn't do anything because I was tied to the gate. So Naraku," Sango said the name with bitterness, "just laughed like the whole thing was a joke and then made Kohaku cut his own pinky off."
Sango began trembling and she was obviously putting in a lot of effort not to break down. "Naraku told me that Kohaku was his willing slave because he held my brother's soul in a cursed item, a stone shaped like a human heart. He showed it to me and then promised me that I could get my brother's soul back if I only did one thing; I killed you."
It was too much of the poor girl and she broke down again, sobbing into her hands. Miroku pulled her closer and stroked her hair. "I didn't want to do it, I really didn't." She sobbed. "But Kohaku was just standing there, bleeding like it was nothing. I figured that after I killed you and freed my brother's soul I'd kill myself for you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself after that; I care for you too much."
Miroku blinked. "Really?" he said, pulling Sango away, just a bit.
The girl blushed and looked away. "Well… I…"
Miroku smiled. "Come on, Kagome and the others are probably looking for me. Aren't they going to be glad!" He winced as he stood up and Sango's face reflected her concern.
"Are you alright? I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?" she asked, helped him stand and retrieving his staff. Miroku grinned and patted his chest. "Takes more than that to hurt me. Besides Sango, I've been with you long enough that I barely feel your blows anyway."
Sango's eyes narrowed. "Don't push it Miro-Houshi-sama." She caught hers. Miroku smiled.
"Kami's sake Sango, I'm not an old man. Call me Miroku." He took a step forward and winced. "Although I may need a bit of help walking for a while."
Sango immediately put the monk's arm of her shoulder to help him stand, looking at him worriedly. "Is that better now?" She asked. The monk made no reply and Sango's face suddenly reddened as she felt his arm reach a bit more downward. She slapped him as the monk laughed. "Alright, alright, no more funny business!" Miroku promised. "But I really could use your help."
Sango face was still red but she obliged. "Fine then Houshi-sama." Miroku gave her a look and she frowned at him. "Miroku."
The monk smiled. "Better."
Kuro-michi watched the couple make their way through the rocks, directly to where the others were making their way, so there was no mistake they'd meet each other. Noting that the mood seemed lighter now the trespasser demon could only shake his head.
"Fools." He said, from his perch on the cliff. "You have no idea what's coming, do you? These weren't even the first trials you'll have to face. Every single one of you is a time bomb, ticking away. The exterminator was just a little preview. You may not even survive the detonation of the first of you, if this experience doesn't harden you fast enough."
End Chapter 34
ChocolateEclar: Well, a good vocabulary is stupendiforous to have, that's what I say! And hot guys fighting over you, now wouldn't we all love that? But Inu-inu's a bit of a moron when it comes to dead brood vs modern-school girl, so I guess we have to forgive him for that. But still, Kikyou's made of DIRT. And he kissed her! Ew.
link no miko: I have the strange feeling I should be running for my life now. Well, Sango's back, Miroku alive and I gave you your S/M moment! Are you happy? Are you satisfied? Are you still going to kill me? I laughed at your comment about Shippo, but he's still alive too, so now killing the little fox-boy, okay? Truce? And come on, the quote's funny! Just like my stupid typos! Ha ha…. Heh. *hangs head* You read them over and over and yet still don't pick out the stupid and obvious ones. Well, if they make you laugh all the better. And still shot down by your ideas of the trespassers? Or did Micky's conversation with the one in this chapter further confuse you? I'm so evil. And all I saw of FF8 was the opening sequence, which I didn't like since I saw an X video done to that music which was drop dead gorgeous except now I can't find it and it makes me angry. But I did find Gackt music. Oh the downloading. Between AS, HunterXHunter and Gackt music, my poor little computer's gonna have a breakdown. Ah well, it's old anyway.
Ronagu-chan: Yes, rabid goats. And The URL has been given, so now I will away, to further download and work on my site. And I tried your link-up too late and now it won't work. *hangs head* I'm sorry.
And no preview tonight! Sorry but I have a ton of homework to cram! I love you all very much, so I'll give you a sentence!
Ultra brief preview of Chapter 35: Fang
"Oh shit." Sesshoumaru muttered, staring out at the bleakness of hell.
End ultra brief preview
Now what in the world would make our Sesshy say something so uncouth? You'll have to wait until next week to find out!
~Ama
Quotacular: When I'm finished eating my vegetables, what do I do with their wheelchairs? – again, the great t-shirts.