Chapter 21
(Sorry folks. All things must come to an end. This is the end of my epic fanfic. It's been a ball for me to write this. I hope you enjoyed reading it. And if you didn't why are here? Get out! LOL. LadySesshoumaru41)
In the master's chamber…"Come now Mesosuki. You can't stand any more of this. I how ever can continue to mistreat you for a very long time." He had the young heir's face in his hands. He was week and bruised but there was still fire in his eyes.
"I wont do it. I'll die first." He spat at the demon, which only served to infuriate the dragon all the more.
Shamotokai smacked the boy across the face sending him flying across the room. He slid to a halt at the top of the stairs leading to his chamber. Shamotokai raced forward and grabbed the boy to deliver another blow when he noticed he wasn't alone.
"Put him down, creep!" Inuyasha yelled as he rushed forward.
"Be careful Inuyasha he might hurt the boy." Kagome called from the passageway.
Inuyasha stopped. Shamotokai had the boy in his claws and was threatening to crush the boy. "One step further halfling and I will kill him."
Sesshoumaru had now entered the massive chamber that served as Shamotokai's courtroom. "You wont kill him you need him too badly for that." He stalked around the room until he was nearly behind Shamotokai.
"Stop! Stay there. Don't move or you'll regret it." Shamotokai was desperate.
"Fool! Don't you realize that you are out numbered? All your servants are dead and you haven't got a chance to win this." Sesshoumaru was closing in for the kill and Shamotokai knew it. He looked around and realized he had only one choice left. He began to glow brightly and expand. As he expanded the young Mesosuki was pulled inside the dragon-demon's body. Shamotokai transformed in front of them. He grew to an immense size and roared out in defiance. "I am the heir he has become part of me. None can stand in my way." He burst through the ceiling of the chamber and flew out onto the roof.
Those who could, followed him out the hole in the roof, the rest scrambled to find another way up there.
On the roof the battle raged on. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were working with their sons to try to kill the beast. It was a daunting task. The five shards that Shamotokai had combined with the natural power of the Kai's heir made for a formidable opponent.
The scales of the dragonhad been madeimpenetrable to Sugumi's darts and claws. No one, not even Inuyasha could get a cut in and he was afraid to use the backlash wave because of the others working so closely.
"AH HA HA… the demon laughed. You're pathetic. You think you can defeat me? I have the power of the Kai within me. I will destroy you all and then I will rule as undisputed Kai of all demons."
"That's what you think." It was Kagome. She had her bow in hand and was aiming it at the dragon.
"Kagome what are you doing? Get back this guy is too strong." Inuyasha yelled at his wife.
"Get down Inuyasha I know what I'm doing." She hoped. She wanted to break the spell that combined them. She knew if she could do that then the others could handle him. And maybe just maybe the heir could be saved. She aimed for the shards pulled back with all her might and then let go. She closed her eyes and hoped.
"Ahhhhhh…" Shamotokai screamed and shook violently. The shards exploded from his body. SuddenlyShamotokai seemed to stretch and pull apart. In seconds where there had been one huge dragon there were two demons.
Mesosuki was exhausted and collapsed to the ground. Shamotokai on the other hand stood where he was frozen to the spot. He could no longer assume the dragon form. That, it seemed was an effect of the shards and now that he no longer had those he was somewhat less than mediocre once more.
Sesshoumaru leapt forward and in one blow took off the head of the stunned demon ending his life.
Kagome and Katame were crouched beside the injured heir of the realm. "Are you alright lord Kai?" Katame asked as she tried to help the young lord sit up. She dug in a bag that she had been carrying on her back. She pulled out a small flask of water and gave him a sip.
"Thank you." Mesosuki looked at the group surrounding him. "Sesshoumaru? Did father send you?"
"Forgive me lord Kai, but your father is dead. I came on my own. These with me are my brother our sons and wives. Those two are friends of my brother." Sesshoumaru helped the young lord to his feet. He was a little unsteady. "Are you badly injured? We could carry you."
"No. I'm fine just a little tired I need some rest and something to eat."
"Hutu find some place for the Kai to rest. Sugumi go with him." Sesshoumaru ordered.
"I'll fix you some food." Katame offered and ran off to find the kitchen with her sons in tow.
Kagome had wondered off to pick up the shards that had been inside the body of Shamotokai. She picked them up and held them out in the palm of her hand. "I know what I must do. I don't know why I must do it but I must." She closed her hands on the jewel. She started to glow with a surreal blue light. It shimmered all around her she seemed to be lifted off the floor and hovered there for a moment. Then as quickly as it began it faded. She dropped down and collapsed in a heap. The healed jewel rolled out from her hand. Inuyasha went to bend down to pick it up.
"Stop! Inuyasha don't touch it. It's been healed only Kagome may touch it. Please don't. Even with my spiritual training I shouldn't touch it."
Inuyasha pulled his hand back and instead crouched down by his wife. "Kagome, are you alright?" He pat her cheek gently. She groaned and opened her eyes.
"We have to take the jewel back." She drifted out of consciouness and when she woke she was wrapped in blankets. She was still on the roof and the jewel was exactly where it fell. Miroku had set up a spiritual barrier so none of the demons could touch it.
When she was fully awake she took the jewel and headed off to her husband. Everyone was in the main chamber eating the meal that Katame and her sons had prepared. Mesosuki was enjoying his first meal in days and was most grateful to them for rescuing him.
"Once you are strong enough Lord Kai we will take you back to your palace. Your servants are worried, and will be glad to have you back."
"I don't understand something, Sesshoumaru. Why didn't you claim the throne? You obviously have the power needed to insure your rule."
"My place is in the western realm. I have always been a friend of your father's I would never dishonor him by assuming to take what belongs to his son."
"Your loyalty will be rewarded." Mesosuki looked over at the half demon who was now deep in conversation with his human mate. "Your brother, he has no lands of his own does he?"
"No lord our father left the rule to me alone." Sesshoumaru wasn't sure where this was going. "Why? Does this trouble you lord?"
"No, but I think anyone who acts well on behalf of the royal house should be rewarded. Don't you agree?"
"You will do what you feel is best. I won't say one way or the other." Sesshoumaru was beginning to see. The Kai was going to award some territory to his brother. He just hoped it wasn't his own that would be given.
"Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha turned suddenly. The Kai had called his name. The Kai never spoke to half-breeds. What could this mean? He got up and came over to where the Kai was sitting. He stood a respectful distance away and bowed low. "Did you want me?" He was a little afraid to speak and looked at his brother for some clue. His brother only nodded.
"Inuyasha, you have no land. I will change that. You shall have the territory that my father gave to the traitor Shamotokai. You must come to the palace with me and I will have my servants give you a map of the region. I expect your continued loyalty. Your brother will instruct you in the verious duties of a lord."
Inuyasha was astonished. He didn't know what to do. He looked in disbelief from the Kai to his brother and back again. "You want to give me land? I'm just a half demon I'm not allowed…"
Sesshoumaru stood and spoke to his brother sharply. "The Kai has given you a command Inuyasha. Show the proper respect." Then he bowed to the Kai. "I apologize for my brother. Please forgive him. I was remiss I should have instructed him better."
The Kai waved for Sesshoumaru to sit. "The fault is not yours Sesshoumaru. My father had no use for half-breeds and would not allow them to be instructed in the ways of the court. Inuyasha, do you swear loyalty to me and my realm?"
Inuyasha knelt before the lord Kai and promised his loyalty until death. With that the matter was ended. Inuyasha, a half demon, would become the first in the history of the demons to own titled land and be truly called a lord by human and demon alike.
In the morning the group escorted the young Kai back to his palace. A great feast was held in honor of the ones who had risked everything to rescue Mesosuki.
The entire group was gifted with treasures from the Kai's own treasury. Sesshoumaru's land was expanded to the north and south. Inuyasha besides the land was gifted with a great deal of gold and jewels to set him up in his new role as lord of the southern mountains. The humans were not left out either. Thewives of Sesshoumaru and Inuyashaeach were dressed in the finest silks and given such fine jewelry that was incredibly ornate of the finest workmanship.
Miroku being a monk was gifted with a small parcel of land in the region of Inuyasha. He was also given some money to build a home for his new family.
The next morning…
The group said their farewells to the Kai and took their leave. Inuyasha and Kagome had something to do before returning to the fortress that was now his. Kagome had told him that she felt an overwhelming need to return the jewel to the village of the demon hunters, to the cave of Midorico.
Midorico lived ages ago. She was a priestess of incredible power. She could purify a demon rendering him powerless. She was now entombed in stone surrounded by the stone images of demons. Her last battle preserved in stone. She had a hole in her chest where the jewel which had once been her own soul, was forced out in a last ditch effort to destroy the demons that were attacking her.
Now Kagome was returning the jewel to the dead priestess where it belonged.
Sesshoumaru and his wife an sons went with them to see the stone that had been so much trouble for so many finally put to rest.
They stood at the entrance to the cave and after offering a prayer for the dead entered the cave through the spirit barrier. Midorico would not suffer any to enter her tomb without them first showing compassion for the dead. Her barrier would also toss anyone out who acted inappropriately. Inuyasha found that out the hard way when he was thrown from the cave for saying that he wanted to use the jewel to become a full demon, years earlier.
Kagome held the jewel tightly to her breast. "Midorico, I don't know if you can hear me or not but I have your jewel. Its been purified. I can't keep it. Please take it back." She looked at Sesshoumaru. "Can you fly me up there please." She pointed to the hole in the chest of the stone statue that had once been Midorico. Sesshoumaru nodded and floated her in place above the hole. Kagome popped the jewel into the hole and then they drifted back down to the floor of the cave.
withinseconds of doing thatsomething wonderful started to happen. A great swirl of blue and silver light whipped up all around the stone maiden. Then cracks began to form in the stone woman. Soon chunks of stone started to fall away reveling the restored flesh of the priestess Midorico. She emerged from her stone tomb and seemed to float in the air above the group. She landed softly and spoke with a voice that seemed to come from all around.
"Thank you young maiden." She then looked at the half-demon Inuyasha. "What do you wish of me? You once said you wished to use the jewel to become a full demon. Yet you brought the jewel back to me. Why?"
Inuyasha bowed slightly as he spoke. "That was a while ago. I've grown since then. I no longer need it. I have my wife and son. I'm happy with that." He didn't mention the fact that he was now officially recognized in the demon court, something that some full demons never attain to.
"It is as you have said young demon. You have grown but still I will give you a gift." She held out her hand and Inuyasha began to rise in the air. A bright light surrounded him. Everyone had to look away or risk being blinded. Gradually the light dissipated and Inuyasha lay on the floor.
Midorico said. "Again I thank you young maiden. Now I may truly rest." With that she disintegrated into a shower of sparkling dust. She was gone.
The stunned group could only look on. Then they heard a soft groan from the floor.
Inuyasha was coming to. He rubbed his head. "What happened?" He asked as he rose to his feet. That's when everyone gave a collective gasp. There on his forehead was the crescent moon of the western realm. The mark Sesshoumaru had on his own forehead.
Sesshoumaru stepped forward and took his brother's face in his hand and turned it this way and that looking carefully at him. "You are a full demon." He said bluntly. "The priestess must have changed you. You bear the markings of our father." He took hold of Inuyasha's arm to show him the stripes that were now on his wrists.
Inuyasha stared dumbly at them for a moment. "How?" was all he could get out.
Miroku came up to his friend. "Midorico could grant a persons fondest wish. She obviously felt you deserved it. Congratulations it's what you've wanted for a long time."
A huge smile came to the demon's face. He grabbed Kagome and swung her around and gave her a big kiss. "Lets go. I have a territory to look after. Now that this is finally over maybe we can get on with our lives."
Sesshoumaru pat his brother on the back. "Come back with me to my palace and I will teach you what you will need to know to rule your territory. You will have many new obligations and you will also have to show the Kai the change you have gone through. He will want to know about it.
Weeks later Inuyasha was again on his way south from his brother's palace. He would never have guessed it took so much work to rule a territory under the Kai. He had never been interested in that sort of stuff. Not that he would have been allowed to anyway being the half-breed that he was. (Past tense) Now he headed off with the loves of his life, his wife and son, to start a new life. Lord of the southern mountains. It sounded good to him.
Sesshoumaru waved goodbye to his now full demon brother. He then took his wife and entered the ancestral palace of the lord of the western realm.
And they lived happily ever after (GAG!)
(Th Th That's all folks. No more to say about them. I have to stop. I have no life, all I do is write, write, write. Ahhhh somebody get me out of here. Shut off the computer pleas…) 'Click'
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Ladysesshoumaru41