I warned you about the cliffies! By the way, this is probably my favorite scene.
I'd like to thank Kat Morning for the setting of my story, which is based on the alternate universe of her inu fanfic "Blood Ties."
Disclaimer: I do not own Sesshomeru, Miroku, Sango, Kaede, or any other Inuyasha characters. They are owned by their author/creator, Rumiko Takahashi.
Chapter 17: Kaede's Trap
Miroku had leapt to his feet the moment he heard Kura scream, but he turned in time to see the window fall in and smash on the floor. A few Seniors grabbed weapons, but Sesshomeru's energy whip dazzled them and sliced their blades in two before they had even approached. Sesshomeru spoke, his voice quiet: "When Tokyo has burned to the ground, I want you fools to remember that you had the chance to stop it. Release the young woman. If you have harmed her, I will tear your arms and legs off." There was no emotion in his voice.
Miroku pulled a warding spell from his pocket and threw it at the demon lord. It struck the battle aura and was incinerated. "Kuso," Miroku cursed, reaching for another even as the demon raised his right hand.
"Stop, Sesshomeru-sama! Don't!" Kura freed herself from the stunned guards and ran to the demon. "Please don't hurt him." As she approached the aura, Sesshomeru lowered the barrier to avoid hurting her.
At the instant Sesshomeru lowered the barrier, Kaede yelled, "Shin!" Along the walls, hidden spell-sutras flashed to life. Within a second the spell-circle was completed. The demon lord staggered, as if a heavy weight had been dropped on him.
Sesshomeru watched in horror as the ceiling melted and ran down the walls to the floor, that was spinning up to meet it. Objects were magnified when the drips passed behind them. Nauseous colors swirled. He was unsure exactly which direction was down; it was as if he was floating in water. Sounds came from every direction at once. He flailed out with his arms, warning the demon hunters to keep their distance. Someone was calling his name, but he couldn't remember how to speak to answer.
Kura was frantic. "Sesshomeru-sama! Sesshomeru!" His movements were jerky and unbalanced, as if he was drunk or blind. Her fingernails scrabbled at a sutras, trying to scrape it off the wall. It burned her fingers, but she bit her lip and continued scratching. She had failed to convince Council, and now Sesshomeru would die for trusting her. No! She couldn't fail this time. "Miroku, help me! The spell . . . Miroku, please, I need you to break the spell."
Miroku felt his stomach lurch. She was asking him to defy Council to save the life of a demon lord. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. The last time Kura had asked for a favor, Miroku had refused to give her the miko blood. It had nearly killed her. Miroku couldn't refuse again. He closed his eyes and raised his voice in a chant, but knew it would be fifteen seconds before the counter-curse would take effect.
Kura placed herself between Sango, who was preparing to throw a spear, and the target. "Idiot!" Sango snapped, "Get out of the way."
Although all of his regular senses were befuddled by the spell, Sesshomeru sensed that one of the demon-hunters was approaching on his left. His special abilities were thwarted by the spell-circle, so he was unable to summon the energy whip or the battle aura. He attacked with his claws, striking with the speed of a hunting heron. He felt his hand connect with flesh and tore through it, he felt the warm blood dripping down his arm. The blood-scent was intoxicating and . . . familiar.
Miroku spoke the last words of the counter-spell and felt it take effect, tearing the sutras in two. He opened his eyes.
The numbness and vertigo left Sesshomeru as quickly as they had come, allowing him to see clearly. He could see that his claws had dug deep into Kura's back, severing the brachial artery and almost removing her arm. He could hear the gurgle of blood entering the punctured right lung. Her eyes were wide and fixed, staring at Sango.
Someone was screaming and cursing; Miroku was mildly surprised to find that it was his own voice. He leapt over the conference table and caught Kura as she slumped forward. Kneeling, he hugged the body close to his chest, though he knew she was already dead.