Author's Notes: I'm seeing new names on reviews for this story, and many of the old ones, and everyone seems to be happy with the results. Has anyone read my animanga for the prologue to "To Protect the One I Love"? Cause I really worked hard on it! makes a sad face Anyway, a few people want replies, so here they are:
Dust'in ( ) – I did remember you wanting Inuyasha to fight Demon Inuyasha, so I had to make a reason why there was two Inuyashas, that was the changling. As for the battle, since the changling wasn't defeated, there can always be another one (I should say will be, I just haven't written it yet) As for Sesshoumaru and Rin, although there are a lot of fans out there that like this couple, I'm not sure I could realistically write for them, but if I change my mind I'll let you know. The children do know they have an uncle, but he's just as secluded as before.
Tsurashi – Shippo does live with Inuyasha as Kagome, and since he's always seen Kagome as a segregate mother, I don't see why that would change. I could even see him as a kind of babysitter when our favorite couple wanted some alone time. So, does that help?
The Chains of Enslavement
Hiding behind some bushes, the group watched as a bunch of youkai – all wearing collars – marched into a large ominous looking cave. "Is that it?" Miroku asked.
Nodding next to Shippo, Yuuki said nothing.
Sango narrowed her eyes. "Does this place look familiar to you?"
Miroku nodded. "It's Naraku's old lair."
"Yamatsu spent months digging out all the rock and debris." Yuuki whispered. "More like the rest of us dug it out while he watched."
Shippo rubbed her back soothingly. "Everything's going to be fine."
"We should split up and look for everyone." Sango suggested. "Kirara and I will go in and you three can follow in afterwards."
"Right." The monk tightened his grip on his staff. "Be careful, Sango." He looked at his wife. "If even one of those youkai see you, they'll all be on top of you before…"
Giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, Sango smiled. "We meet back here in two hours if we haven't found anything." Getting a nod of acknowledgment, she and her companion went and disappeared into the cave.
Sango…
Moaning, Kagome opened her eyes and slowly got into a sitting position. It wasn't too bright in the room where she was so she was able to adjust quickly. The moments before her capture came back to her and she gasped, immediately looking around for her children. "Shaoran? Shiori? Inuyasha!?"
"They're undergoing some…adjustments. Just as you soon will." Yamatsu said, materializing from the shadows.
Getting to her feet, Kagome backed away from him. "G-get away from me. I'm not as defenseless as you think." She bluffed. In truth, she had used most of her powers fending off that Kazu no Kizu.
"I know and that's what intrigues me so." He took a seat in the massive thrown in the room. "My father feared Kikyou for her powers and her…effect on him. But I do not fear it."
"Eh?"
"Kagome, you are but a mere human – in form and heart, but your spirit and soul are so much more powerful."
Glaring at him, Kagome tried to hide her confusion. Where is he going with this? She wondered. "Well, that's more than you can say for yourself."
Smiling amused, Yamatsu continued. "Though I can't pretend to understand why you decided to…mate with a hanyou such as Inuyasha…"
"And I'm not about to tell you." She cut him off.
"What I will do is offer you an option better than the death that awaits you." He watched her eyes go wide before continuing. "My army is already hundreds strong – thanks to the research of my father – and there will be no where to run for you or your family, even if you were to manage to escape."
"And just what are you proposing? That you'll give up now and save us the trouble of kicking your sorry butt into the afterlife with your demented and warped father?" She asked. (A/N: Go Kagome! Results from living with Inuyasha no doubt, ne?)
"You see?" Yamatsu stood up. "It's that fire I need by my side during my conquest."
Kagome was taken aback. "What?"
"Join me and nothing but ultimate control awaits you."
Backing up another step, Kagome shook her head. "What makes you think I'd want anything like that – especially from someone like you? Now let me and my family go." She said with more confidence than she felt.
Raising his hand, Kagome was thrown back into the wall by the sheer power. Gritting her teeth, Kagome tried to fight it, but he held her firmly above the ground. "I'm afraid you don't have a choice."
Ducking behind a corner, Sango avoided being seen by six or so marching youkai. As far as she could tell, most of them were usually peaceful demons who kept to themselves. They weren't going to hurt anyone unless commanded, because the jeweled collars around their necks would make defiance impossible and painful.
Those who joined Yamatsu's ranks of their own free will, commanded the others and they were the ones Sango had to watch out for. She wasn't sure how deep or long the tunnels ran and probably wouldn't be able to find her way out again.
But first thing's first: finding her friends.
Sniffing the air, Kirara picked up on their scent and nudged her mistress. Nodding silently, Sango waited until the coast was clear, then followed her faithful feline down the rocking corridors.
Looking both ways, Yuuki dashes across the open passage – signaling it was safe for the others to follow. Running to her side, Miroku bent down to the kitsune's level. "Are you sure this is the way to the prisoner's cell blocks?"
Nodding, Yuuki said. "All of the passageways form from one central point – the audience chamber. It's where Yamatsu addressed us and tried to convince us to join his army willingly. Those who refused…well you know the rest."
"Hmm, then there's sure to be a lot of traffic through that room. And there's no way around it?" The monk asked.
"Well, you could dig through, but it would take longer than your friends have." She said with a grave tone.
Shippo smirked and dug into his pockets. "Don't wanna be seen? We can use these then!" He took out some scrolls like Miroku's and a few of his magic leaves.
"Where did you get those?" Miroku asked.
"From that old youkai exterminator you and Sango always think is faking it." Replied the kitsune cub. "These'll make us invisible!" He smiled, happy to know he could still be useful every now and then.
Getting an annoyed look on his face, Miroku asked, "Why didn't you say something earlier?"
Sweatdropping, Shippo replied, "Cause I only have enough power to last about five minutes and then it wears off."
"That should be all we need to make it to the other side! Shippo, you're a genius!" Yuuki whispered and threw her arms around the fox cub.
Blushing bright red, Shippo forces a smile. "A-anytime."
With one scroll and one leaf crisscrossed on their foreheads, Miroku and the fox youkai cubs crept up to the bustling center point. The monk thought it would be one level, but once he caught sight of it – he found he was very, very wrong.
Craning his neck up, Miroku saw literally dozens of levels, all with their various passageways and traffic. It was like a giant hollow cylinder that ran several floors up and…
"Look down there!" Shippo whispered.
…Several floors down.
At the base of it was a massive amount of youkai gathering around for something. Some had collars – some didn't. Miroku watched as the youkai in the higher levels, bent over the railings to get a better look at whatever was about to happen.
Slowly, two large doors opened and Yamatsu strolled into the crowd, stepping onto a platform that raised him above the soldiers on the bottom level. "For years now, you have strived to build this army and this base with your own strength. Strength the humans above will finally come to realize is far beyond their own!" He addressed.
As one, all the youkai cheered.
"But I'm here to tell you that we can use the humans as well as make them pay!"
This got most of the youkai confused.
"Today is the day I share my rule with another!" Yamatsu announced.
Upon hearing this, Miroku gasped. Using our strength?
"I present to you my queen!" From behind Yamatsu came one dressed in a long black skirt with a white blouse on top and a black vest.
But even changed, the monk still recognized his good friend. "Kagome-sama!?"
The youkai next to them turned, as if hearing something, but when it couldn't see anything, turned its attention back to its leader.
A crude looking black streak adorned her left cheek above and below her eye. She gave no response that she even knew what was going on. She also had a sort of headband that went behind her head and held two defiled Shikon no Tama over her temples.
When the youkai caught sight of the miko, there was an immediate uproar.
"Silence!" Yamatsu commanded. "She is one of us now and her abilities will be crucial if we wish to obtain total domination!" He turned to the girl. "If you would?"
Nodding, her bow and an arrow appeared in her hand and she aimed it at one of the lowly youkai in the upper levels. Firing her purity arrow, the youkai right next to Miroku vaporized.
That's when she saw them, her miko sight giving her the ability to see through the kitsune magic. M-Miroku?
Looking around the corner, Sango saw the gathering and gasped at what drew everyone's attention. "Kagome-chan!"
Seeing them, Yamatsu narrowed his beady red eyes. "Get them!"
As one, all the youkai converged on the taijiya.
Jumping on Kirara, Sango flew into the gap between floors. With one mighty swing, she threw her boomerang, "Hiraikotsu!"
Three youkai were cut in half, while a forth lost his head completely.
"Kill the human!" Another shouted, jumping from overhead.
Not having hiraikotsu back yet, Sango gasped as the large oni fell down towards her. Then, out of nowhere, a scroll landed on his face and electricity lanced over his body, making him scream in pain. As he rolled in mid air, he missed his target and continued to fall – right in front of Yamatsu and Kagome – crushing a couple more youkai beneath him.
Sango caught her weapon and looked around curiously. Miroku? But no one was there.
Sensing more danger, Kirara flew higher to avoid her mistress being injured.
Watching all this with an even expression, Kagome neither ran away, nor tried to help her friends. Something's not right about this but my mind feels so heavy. I can't think. She watched Sango battle the youkai and unconsciously tried to remember the demon exterminator.
Landing on one of the levels, Sango pulled out her short sword and began battle with an eerie looking green demon. The battle was short, but when she turned around, the demon tried to bit her leg and as it opened its mouth, its eyes went wide with shock. Turning around curiously, Sango saw its head had an indentation in it.
Then, with the spell finally wearing off, Miroku materialized before her, his staff rising from the demon's head.
"It was you!" She exclaimed.
"I couldn't let you get hurt now could I?" He smirked.
Smiling in gratitude, Sango went back to back with the monk. "Have you found Inuyasha or the children yet?"
"No, but at this point, I'm afraid that might be a little out of the question." He replied as the youkai gathered up on each side of them. "What I wouldn't give to have kazaana back right now."
"The houshi I knew always loved a challenge." Sango joked, though the situation looked grim for both of them.
Yamatsu pulled Kagome back and whispered into her ear. "Return to your room and stay there until I come for you."
Nodding, Kagome turned around and retreated back into the passageway.
Inuyasha…children…
FLASH!
Shiori laughed as her father jumped from tree to tree as he gave her a piggyback ride. Inuyasha landed in front of Kagome with the biggest smile she could ever remember him having.
"Again! Again!" The hanyou pup exclaimed.
Taking the girl into her arms, Kagome laughed. "It's time for you to take a bath. Besides, it's your brother's turn."
"Awww, but I don't wanna take a bath!" She whined. "Daddy never has to take one!"
Loading the second twin onto his back, Inuyasha scoffed. "That's cause I don't need one!" He replied.
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Actually, you're due for one pretty soon, too."
"Ha! You gotta catch me first!" He smirked and took off with Shaoran giggling the whole time.
She knew she could just 'sit' him, but it would be more fun to lure him into a hot spring later…
FLASH!
Gasping, Kagome remembered everything. Inuyasha! Shaoran and Shiori! The defiled jewels on the sides of her temples slowly faded from black to pink, the black streak disappeared and she looked around in surprise. I have to find them! Then she turned and took off down the hall.
Materializing into view, Yuuki held a finger to her lips as they neared the prison cells.
"Do you think we should've left Miroku alone back there?" Shippo whispered.
"Do you want to save your friends or not?" She replied. Struggling to pick up any sound, the kitsune began hearing a feint whimpering – not too different from her own when she had been locked away down here. "This way."
Following her down the darkening tunnel, Shippo passed by cells of youkai who had yet to be conditioned and those who had become warped because of it. "Can we really leave all these guys here?"
Without looking back, Yuuki replied coldly, "We can't save them all now…not yet." Pausing, she turned to face him and dared to hope. "But maybe if you and your comrades succeed, we might be able to save them yet." The smallest of smiles crossed her face, which Shippo gladly returned.
"I don't care what you say! I'm going to get out of here and find mom and dad!"
Shippo gasped. "That's Shiori!" Taking off towards the voice, Yuuki rushed to keep up.
"I'm not saying we give up, but maybe if we pretend to give in, we might be able to buy us some freedom so we can get back to them eventually." Shaoran replied.
Shiori glared at her brother. "What about the jewels? How do you know you won't be taken over like the others?"
Crossing her arms, Shaoran huffed. "Like some stupid gem could control me."
Appearing on the other side of the bars, Shippo halted to a stop. "Finally, we found you guys!" He exclaimed.
"Shippo-chan!" Shiori ran up to clasp his hand through the
steel separating them. "Get us out of
here!"
"Hang on." Yuuki pulled some keys from her robes and
began to try and open the door.
Looking at her strangely, Shippo asked, "When'd you get those?"
Smiling shyly, she replied, "I sorta swiped it off one of the guards back at the audience chamber when everyone was watching Yamatsu."
The door opened with a click and Shaoran and Shiori were set free.
"Now! To find mom and dad!" Shaoran exclaimed.
Shippo wanted to say something about Kagome, about the look at her eyes before, but finding them first was more important. They would have to deal with the miko when the time came. "Right. Let's go."
Kagome ran down what seemed like endless hallways following the distant sense she got of Inuyasha's presence. Somehow she could feel his soul darkening and shifting into something far worse. It was this change that quickened her steady walk into a panicked run. She had to be by his side before it was too late.
Reaching a black metal door, she tried to open it, but to no avail. "Inuyasha! Inuyasha I'm here!" She shouted.
Inside, Inuyasha's closed eyes opened a slit, revealing red pupils, though his demeanor seemed dazed.
Desperation taking hold, she formed a miko energy ball in her hand and blasted the door open. The shockwave threw her back as well and she fell hard on the stone floor, tearing up her hands and knees as she landed.
The effect was adequate enough though. A gaping hole was all that remained of the door. When Kagome got back to her feet, she watched intently as the debris and dust cleared, revealing a low lit room with one occupant.
Gasping, Kagome ran forward. "Inuyasha!"
Bound by his wrists to a chain hanging from the ceiling, Inuyasha hung suspended in the middle of the room. Blood from long gashes covered most of his body, as well as grooves made by the merciless metal around his wrists. The gashes – no doubt the result of the 'convincing' process by Yamatsu, were layered upon each other, causing pieces of skin to hang loosely off his body.
Kagome teared up just at the sight of him in such bad condition. "I-Inuyasha?" She feared him dead and gone forever without her. But as she took another step forward, she stopped as her senses told her something was very wrong…
It started as a quiet laugh, then it broke into a maniacal laughter that shook his entire bloodied form. Lifting his head ever so slightly to look at the miko before him, Inuyasha's eyes flashed red as his face broke into a wide grin. "You should've never come." His voice was low and dark…was this really her Inuyasha?"
"I…I have to get you out of here." She stuttered. Why was she so scared?
Attempting to lunge at her with a primal growl, the chains jerked him back and spun him around once before he faced the miko once more. "I never asked you to come here. You should leave…"
"I-I'm not going anywhere without you." She replied.
As new black blood dripped down his arms from his wrists, staining his usually flawless silver hair, the crazed hanyou glared at her. "Leave now before I break these puny chains and rip you apart."
Kagome's heart was doing backflips. "W-what do you mean?"
Cocking his head to the side, he smirked again. "I mean I'm gonna snap these chains into two, run you into the ground and bite your succulent neck until there's nothing of it left." He paused so his words could sink in. "So get out now…while you still can…"
"B-but…"
"GET OUT OF HERE NOW!"
His voice reverberated inside the room and inside Kagome's soul. W-what do I do?
Author's Notes: Ha! My first good cliffhanger in the series yet. Oh yeah, and chapter one of my animanga is up at my webby! Yay!