History Repeats Itself
Sesshoumaru traveled through the sky as quickly as he could. While in his father's study, he'd discovered something chilling that demanded his immediate attention. Mikaboshi, now in Yamatsu's body, would want more than mere youkai to build his army with. Other than the realm of the dead and hell, there was a third realm where creatures, including gods and demons, that did horrific things were sent. It was a kind of purgatory, named Gakido, where they could never be able to escape…without, that is, an immense amount of both horiki (sp?) (the holy power monks and priestess have) and yoruyoku, the empowering strength behind demons. Word had already reached Sesshoumaru's ears of Shaoran's capture, as well as Kagome's ransom demand. Should he acquire these two things, it's possible Mikaboshi would have the path to Gakido opened.
All the souls would be freed and under Mikaboshi's command. Sesshoumaru could deduce that, being spirits, their powers would be limited. So, the fact that Mikaboshi was raising an army of any demons he could find, they were to be used as hosts for the released spirits.
Narrowing his eyes, Sesshoumaru knew the one place where Mikaboshi would have to perform the ceremony. It was where Sesshoumaru and his father had once fought Mikaboshi…over Inuyasha.
The strength of a demon was renowned, but what was more powerful – even if Sesshoumaru wouldn't admit it himself, was a half-breed of hanyou. Once word had gotten to Mikaboshi's ears of a hanyou being born from such a powerful youkai, he immediately set out to kidnap baby Inuyasha.
Sesshoumaru, merely a teenager then, fought bravely besides his father in his full form, against Mikaboshi back then. Sesshoumaru never said anything to Inuyasha before because his father had succeeded in banishing Mikaboshi from Earth forever.
Now that Yamatsu had foolishly summoned Mikaboshi back to this plain, the god of evil's purpose was exactly the same as before.
Looking behind him, Sesshoumaru saw Rin sleeping soundly on Aun's back. She had helped him read hundreds of books without sleep and now she was exhausted. He smiled to himself. She looked so cute sleeping like that. Of course, that was something else he would never admit either.
Coming to the site he remembered from long ago, he landed down in the forest and waited for Aun to land as well. "Rin." He said.
Jolting from her sleep, Rin rubbed her eyes and dismounted Aun groggily. "Hai Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"We're here. Get ready."
Snapping awake in an instant, Rin began taking out her things from Aun's back and tucked her short sword in its sheath. Rubbing Aun on the nose she snuggled the loyal creature. "Stay here until we come back, okay?"
Aun let out a sad sounding whine and hung his heads. He didn't like to leave his mistress alone for any amount of time, because most of the time she was getting herself into hordes of trouble with a capital "T".
Going to Sesshoumaru's side, Rin looked ahead. "What are we looking for?"
Narrowing his eyes, even though he couldn't see it, the white haired youkai knew there was a barrier just a few feet away. With his scent, he also caught whiff of his brother nearby as well. "Nothing. Now we wait." He said simply.
Short and to the point. Rin knew her master well enough not to question him. So she would wait. As long as she was by his side she was happy.
Sango set down and Kagome dismounted a few yards from the glowing barrier. "Is this it?" The taijiya asked.
Kagome nodded but said nothing.
Shiori whistled from Miroku's side. "That's some shield."
Inuyasha crackled his knuckles and pulled Tetsusaiga from its sheath. "Say no more." As soon as the fang transformed, it began turning a deep blood red. Jumping up into the air, he let out a war cry and brought it down hard against the barrier.
The sword hit the shield and began crackling as it attempted to break through.
Miroku gasped as Inuyasha struggled. "Is it that strong!?"
Kouga scoffed and crossed his arms. "Shows how much use Dog crap is to us."
Gritting his teeth, Inuyasha pressed harder, but in a flash was thrown back into the forest. Not being able to land on his feet, he tried to aim his fall and ended up landing on Kouga.
The wolf pack leader went down hard and growled as Inuyasha recovered and dusted himself off. "I see we found your only good use." The hanyou said with a smirk.
Kouga balled his fists and was about to punch the living daylights out of Inuyasha when Kagome looked over with a glare, her bow and arrow already in hand. "Later! We've got business to deal with." Then she pulled back her purity arrow and let it fly. It too hit the barrier and tried penetrating the purple hued shield, but sputtered out and died.
"It can't be!" Sango exclaimed. "Kagome-chan's arrows don't work either?"
Kagome bit her bottom lip and tried to think of another plan when Shiori came up with her bow and arrow. "Let's try a double teamed attack."
Smiling, Kagome nodded and pulled another arrow from her quiver. Together, mother and daughter aimed at the barrier and let the arrows fly.
The two purity arrows twirled around each other and became one large ray of light. When it struck the shield, it penetrated half way before the entire barrier shattered like glass.
"Yosh!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"You did it!" Kohaku shot a fist into the air.
"We must move quickly." Miroku reminded them. "Yamatsu no doubt knows his barrier has been broken and will send reinforcements."
Kagome mounted Sango once more and they all rushed in together.
In his darkened lair, Yamatsu smiled – his eyes glowing red. "Sooner than I expected my pet. But I'm grateful none the less." Turning around, Yamatsu approached Shaoran who hung by his wrists on the moist cave wall. "Shall we prepare for them?"
"Why don't you go to hell?" The youth asked instead, tugging on the chains to try and get them to break.
Yamatsu chuckled, amused at the fighting spirit still apparent in the boy and raised two bony fingers to the hanyou's head. Black lightning lanced out and struck Shaoran's forehead.
The pain was short and Shaoran growled at his captor. "What the hell was that for!?"
Where the lightning had danced across his skin, the marking of Mikaboshi was left behind. "You will see soon enough." Yamatsu promised.
Sesshoumaru sensed the barrier's destruction and began walking in without a word.
"Sesshoumaru!" Rin exclaimed in a whisper. "Wait for me!" Then she unsheathed her sword and went on alert.
Upon entering the camp, Sesshoumaru's lungs were filled with the disgusting smell of half eaten remains and youkai body stench. It was almost too much for his senses. The first campfire they came across had four ogre youkai.
One of them looked up, surprised to see a human in the camp and pointed. "What are you doing… "
His companions had barely turned around when Sesshoumaru raised an arm, beheading the youkai who'd spoken with his green whip, cutting off his sentence midway. Before the rest could react, Sesshoumaru had disarmed two others and Rin came in to finish the job with a jab through the stomach.
The last Sesshoumaru used his poison claw attack and ran it through the thick green throat of his victim. The ogre gurgled as blood spurted out of his mouth and down his chin before falling over and dying besides his friends.
Rin flicked her sword to get off any block blood residue and looked to Sesshoumaru. "I don't think anyone else saw us."
Sesshoumaru nodded and advanced deeper into the massive camp. He only hoped he ran into Yamatsu first before Inuyasha. What he had started ages before, he would finish.
Kouga jumped over Inuyasha as the hanyou slid underneath him and slashed at another youkai that was sent against them. "So much for stealth!" He shouted.
Inuyasha jumped into the air and released a kazu no kizu, vaporizing dozens more before answering. "If you had the sense to be quiet when we were coming in!" He accused.
"How was I supposed to know there'd be this many in hiding!?" The wolf youkai defended himself.
Sango threw Hiraikotsu and beheaded two more air born youkai. "It's no wonder so many villages fell so quickly!"
"It is impressive." Miroku agreed, batting one with his staff and using one of his ward papers on another. "Unfortunately we don't have too much more time."
Kohaku, still atop Kurai, looked around. "Do you smell them anywhere?"
Kurai nodded and dashed away from the battle.
Kagome gasped and saw the child leave. "Kohaku! Wait!" She launched another bow into the sky and took off after him. The light exploded and any youkai caught in its rays instantly vanished.
Shiori threw one chakram, then the other. Two youkai were slashed open by one round disk spinning their way, while a third was split through the mouth all the way until it fell dead, the upper part of its mouth falling at its side.
Kohaku approached the waterfall and paused a moment before Kurai jumped through the falling waves. Inside, a few passages were open to them and following his siblings' scent, Kurai took off down the one on the furthest left.
A few moments later, Kagome jumped through the waterfall, coughing out the water that had made its way into her nose. Looking back and forth, she wondered where Kohaku might've gone and went down the middle passageway.
Kurai sped faster and faster until they came to a single barred off cell. He saw all five of his siblings lying asleep inside. Minna!
Hearing their brother's "voice", the wolves awoke and approached the gate. What are you doing here?
Where is father?
While Kurai tried to answer their questions, Kohaku dismounted and took out his sickle and chain. "Hang on one minute. We'll have you out of there." He spun his weapon and threw it at the lock. It split into two and the wolves were sent free.
Thank you, son of Miroku. One said.
Kurai turned to his friend. They thank you, but we have to get back. The battle was not fairing well for father or the others. Kurai didn't mind translating. He and Kohaku had formed a strong bond growing up together; a bond that allowed the human boy to understand Kurai's thoughts, but not his other siblings.
Kohaku nodded and mounted Kurai once more before taking off towards the waterfall. As they approached the fork in the cave, Kurai stopped the sniffed the air. "What is it?"
The priestess has been through here. The wolf replied.
"What? Kagome-sama must've followed us." Turning to the other wolves, he pointed to the waterfall. "Kouga and Inuyasha are out there, along with everyone else. I'm going to go after Kagome-sama."
The wolves nodded and jumped through the crashing waves.
Holding on tightly to Kurai's fur, Kohaku held his sickle tightly in his right hand, in case they ran into other problems.
In the middle of battle, Inuyasha spun around and tried to find Kagome. "Where'd the hell she go now!?"
Sango flew by on Kirara and stopped midair above the hanyou. "I saw her follow Kohaku off in that direction!" She threw hiraikotsu once more and looked down sadly.
Inuyasha understood completely. "I'll bring them both back."
"Arigatou." Catching her boomerang on the rebound, the taijiya added. "We'll handle things out here. Go and stop Yamatsu!"
"Right!" Inuyasha took off following Kagome's scent. He quickly came to the waterfall and after jumping through, dashed down the middle passage. "If Yamatsu even thinks about touching her, I'm going to do to him what I did to Naraku…but far worse." He swore.
Outside as Kouga batted away more youkai, his pups came up and began giving their aide. He smiled and knew he didn't have to say any more. As long as they were safe and unharmed, they would fight with all their spirit and soul. These were children any wolf youkai would be proud of. "Let's take it to 'em!" He shouted, throwing himself into the fray again.
It was then that Sesshoumaru and Rin made their appearance from the far end of the clearing. Rin gasped upon seeing everyone battling and began beheading those youkai closest to her.
Miroku hit another youkai with his staff and smiled upon seeing the duo. "Rin! Sesshoumaru! What are you two doing here?"
"Are you saying you don't want our help?" Rin quipped, stabbing another in the shoulder before kicking it off her sword.
"If you want to call what he's doing "fighting"!" Kouga growled, punching another lowly youkai in the face before one of his sons came and bit the throat to finish it off.
Sesshoumaru scoffed and unsheathed Tokijin. With a single wave, the blue energy eradicated five more youkai and continued towards Kouga.
"Shit!" Kouga deftly jumped out of the way and glared at the cocky demon. Somehow he could see how Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were related. At one time or another, both had fired off their powerful attacks without thinking of the little people. Or as Inuyasha had admitted, purposefully aiming for the little people, namely Kouga and his big mouth. "Don't expect me to thank you!" He shouted before returning to battle.
Sesshoumaru put Tokijin away and walked to where he knew Yamatsu was hiding.
Rin stayed behind and helped everyone fight the youkai. She knew Sesshoumaru would want to go on ahead alone anyway. But inside she feared for his safety. Be careful, Sesshoumaru-sama…
Inuyasha ran through the passageway, somehow remembering doing the exact same thing when Kagome had been taken from him by Onigumo. When he got to the cavern, he saw Kagome and Kohaku, along with Kurai, standing in front of a chasm. On the other side was Yamatsu, just as the hanyou remembered him. But besides him was someone Inuyasha didn't recognize.
"Let him go, Yamatsu!" Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver and readied her bow. "I won't ask you again!"
"Shaoran!" Kohaku tried to get the youth to respond.
Right now the white haired hanyou was standing still besides Yamatsu, not restrained in any way, but with his head bowed.
"Ah, the last of my audience arrives." Yamatsu said smugly as Inuyasha bolted into the room.
"What the hell's going on here!?" He demanded, pulling Tetsusaiga down in front of him.
"I've prepared everyone a little welcoming gift before the real festivities begin. Shaoran? Why don't you greet our guests?"
Head slowly rising, everyone gasped when Shaoran's eyes, no longer golden, flashed red and his fangs exposed themselves when he hissed at his enemies.
"Shaoran!" Kagome exclaimed in horror. "Inuyasha! That's…!"
With the long claws and intense aura, Inuyasha knew exactly what that was. "He's turned into a full demon…but how!?"
Kohaku pointed to the glowing black mark on the hanyou's head. "Yamatsu's infused him with the power of Mikaboshi!"
Growling low, Shaoran raised one claw and jumped into the air, clearing the ten-foot chasm with one leap. Kurai reacted instantly, jumping to the side with Kohaku. Inuyasha jumped forward as well and scooped up Kagome into his arms before his son crashed down on the spot she had just been in. Rocks spewed everywhere but it didn't seem to slow down the youth at all.
Putting Kagome down quickly, Inuyasha raised Tetsusaiga and blocked the next fury of swipes Shaoran sent their way. Sparks flew as the dog fang met the powerful claws of the demon. "Wake up would ya!? Yamatsu's got you controlled!"
But Shaoran didn't reply. He only jumped up, rebounding off the cave walls, before ramming into Inuyasha again.
Inuyasha was thrown back and had to flip midair to clear the chasm.
Kagome gasped as Shaoran landed right in front of her and snarled in her direction. "Shaoran…"
Snorting, the young hanyou turned towards Inuyasha and leapt over to attack him again.
It's just like before, when Inuyasha changed into a full demon himself. Except, Shaoran doesn't have a Tetsusaiga to get his youkai blood under control and I doubt Inuyasha's would even work for him!
Kagome felt the same fear and pain of loss as she did back then. He didn't even recognize me…his own mother… Kagome wanted to help in the battle as father and son faced each other in a stand off, but she didn't want to hurt her own son!
Looking
over she saw Yamatsu watching the battle with a smile. This is all because of him! Aiming her arrow at the youkai lord, Kagome
released the purity weapon. "You
bastard!"
Yamatsu barely glanced in her
direction, when he raised a hand stopping the arrow in mid arc.
"Nani!?" Kagome gasped.
Slowly the arrow turned around and shot back at the archer.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted, but was too far away to help.
"Kurai!" Kohaku had barely spoken the wolf's name when the youkai jolted into action, closing the distance between them and the priestess.
Just as the arrow was about to hit Kagome, Kurai snagged her by her collar and jumped to the side. Kohaku cried out as the arrow pierced his arm instead and almost fell from his mount as Kurai skidded to a halt. Kohaku! Kohaku! The wolf called out, releasing the priestess.
Kagome ran over to the boy and slowly lowered him to the ground. "Kohaku-kun! I'm so sorry!"
Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile. "Mother and father wouldn't have forgiven me if I let you get hurt, Kagome-sama…"
Kagome felt the tears before they came and turned to see Shaoran still growling at his own father, not yet recognizing his own flesh and blood. What are we gonna do? How are we gonna get out of this one?
Author's Note: Interesting match up no? Father versus son? More surprises in store for chapter 18, though I think people are finally getting bored with this story. It seems no one reviews anymore. Ah well, there go my 15 minutes of fame…