ch 19 ------20 years ago---------
A woman with light lavander hair and silky black wings sped along the forest floor pulling a young monk with long black hair tied in a braid down his back, a red habit, a rusty sword tucked into his orange sash.
" Quickly, he will catched up to us soon, I have loss to much strength to carry you"
The young monk limbed along behind the beautiful bat demon. As the sun filtered through the trees gold light shimmered from his chest.
" Please, Yukido I can't keep running like this with an injuried leg, we will have to find a place to hide" He held his chest with his free hand holding the medallion close as he tried to catch his breath.
" No, he can sniff us out, a dog demon is not deterred by simply hiding in the bushes" She pulled him once more in the direction of the mayan river. At the edge of the river two figures could be seen in a tight embrace, " Please, Into the stream, head up stream and I will catch up with you, I will see you from the air" leaving the monk behind the female bat demon headed into the sky.
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" Sesshomaru sama?" Hii-ji sama turned just in time to find the great taiyoukai of the west heading into the clearing. " What brings you here?" " The poison Insects, what did they take?" " Those Medallions I lent to Miyouga-ji ji, why did you return them, did something happen to the girl" Hii ji looked back into the trees in the direction the insect flew. " you could say that" Sesshomaru turned from the old badger to head back to wince he came.
" WAIT, Sesshomaru San, there is something you need to know about those medallions....." Sesshomaru paused a moment only turning his head enough to acknowledge the old badger, " I know all I need to know" and he continued to walk into the forest.
" You can still be with her Sesshomaru, those medallions can make it possible" the old badger recieve something of a grunt from the western lord before he vanished completely into the woods.
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Water soaked and cold the young monk made his way to the edge of the river. -cough, cough- " I thought I would never get out of there" The young monk looked down at his soaked habit and then up to the skies, " oh, yukido, please tell me you are alright"
Draging his soaked body up to the bank he spotted an old shady tree, " I think I will rest a bit, I didn't realize how tired I was" he sat himself down under the shade of the tree. " I wouldn't get to comfortable just yet Hoshi" the monk turned his head to find a tall demon dressed all in white, armor plating at his chest and a yellow sash about his waist, " Sssseeshomaru sama?" the words left his lips in a shaky whisper.
Before he could run the demon lord had him pinned to the very tree he was resting under, " please lord Sesshomaru I did it for love, you know I could not be with her with out those medallions I am only mortal" Sesshomaru continued to stare at him with a bored expression, " I do not care of your foolishness human,.... you stole a valuable item from me"
" You will pay with your life" he closed his eyes and awaited the impact of poison claws, that never came. When he dared to crack open a lid his beloved hung in the air by those very same poison claws.
"LET HER GO!" he pushed himself off the tree and hurtled himself straight at Sesshomaru. He managed to free her from his grasp but only for a few seconds.
" Run!, Yoshi san, I 'll hold him off just get away please" She pleaded him with her eyes to run and not look back. She pushed herself off the ground and stood between her love and Sesshomaru.
" Move Wench, my business is with the monk"
" Never, you will have to go through me first" she stood her ground she glanced back to see if Yoshi had gotten away. She could see him running toward a large tree in the forest.
He looked back once, just in time to see Sesshomaru run his poison claws through her soft belly.
The look left in her eyes told him all, ' I love you'.
Now that there was nothing between him and the furious demon lord he ran in pure panic, when he checked back once more he tripped over a stone dropping the sword and flew head first into an old dry well.
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" Hey mom, what's for breakfast" Kagome skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen. -it amazes me how she can cover up her wounds so easily-
" How are you doing dear?" Higirashi san set a bowl of miso soup down for her daughter and headed back into the kitchen.
" Oh I'm fine.......where's Inuyasha?"
" He said he needed to go back, that he needed to check on something, why don't you use this time to get caught up on your homework dear"
-oh yeah homework, how easily I forget- Kagome let out a deep sigh and swirling her soup with her finger.
" yeah great" -how am I suppose to get my homework done, I don't even know what subject we're studying any more.-
Upstairs Kagome sat staring at her geograpy book, - geez you would think I would know all of Japan by now.......aa who am I kidding the fedual era is a lot different then now...- " ugh".
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He flipped threw a few more page of an old text, - I know I have seen those medallions before- he continued staring down at the yellow parchment, resting the bridge of his nose between his index finger and thumb.
" Sesshomaru Sama!" an exicted Rin ran into his study chambers, her kimono still wet from her hair. " Rin bathed just like you asked Sesshomaru Sama"
Before the great lord could react Rin had planted herself directly into his lap. " Rin missed you Sesshomaru sama"
Sesshomaru pried Rin off his neck and settled her down on his lap. " Rin, you have behaved well?"
" Yes, Sesshomaru sama........ah Sesshomaru Sama?.........Where is Kagome san?" For the first time In over a few hundred years of stoicism the great lord sighed. He held Rin at arms length and looked deep into the little girls brown eyes.
" She is home, and she is safe Rin, do not concern yourself with her anymore" he lifted the little girl off his lap and set her back down on the floor. As he did his beautiful silver mane slipped off his neck.
" Sesshomaru sama.........what is that" Rin pointed to his bare neck now exposed for all to see. In one graceful movement he tossed his hair back over his shoulder effectively covering the smooth paleness of his neck. " It is nothing Rin......go out side and play.....the sun will be coming up from the horizon soon" Rin looked thoughtful for a moment, before smiling at her lord and bouncing out the door, " ok".
Once Rin was out of sight, he unconsciously raised his hand up to his neck cupping it with his long clawed fingers. -Damn that woman, her mark is still there- He ran his fingers over the small bite mark. - no matter, in her world she will find a human to mate with and this hideous reminder will be gone forever- As much as this thought should have brought him some sort of happiness, it only brought sadness. True the great western lord would never admit it or even show it, but it was there and he began to wonder just how long this unwelcome feeling would last.
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" Tenishi Sama,......I bring a request from Naraku.." Kagura walked down long forgotten halls of what use to be the greatest castle in Japan.
Her voice echoed off the hallow walls as she continued her search for the great eastern lord.
" Why would I wish to help that half breed" Tenishi seem to materailize from behind a old rotten screen. " I see you have kept the place well Tenishi" Kagura could not nor wish to hide the sarcasm spilling from her lips.
" What do you want witch" Tenishi narrowed his eyes at her while images flooded his mind of a little girl and a small fox cub.
" I am not a common kid napper, you can tell your Naraku this and leave my castle before I get angry" he turned on his heels, turning his back to her.
" OH, then I guess you wish to continue living in this dump, Have you given up on all your claims to the western lands or have you forgotten you lost them to that mutt. " Kagura stood firm an evil sneer forming on her lips, as she watched his back stiffen and the hairs on his neck stand on end.
" does this mean you will help us" she watched him turn around to face her his once enchanting silver eyes faded to black a vicious snarl pulled at his lips. Kagura's eyes widened in fear as he lunged at her pinning her to a near by wall. " I do not take orders from worthless half breeds, nor will I take taunts from a worthless witch like you" you growled in her face tightening his grip on her neck, her feet dangling inches from the floor.
" What is in this for me.....witch.....why should I have anything to do with a thrown together demon like Naraku"
A small spark could be seen in Kagura's eyes, - so you will help us -
-yes, witch I will help Naraku get my kingdom back but once I do, I will ravage through that pathetic kingdom of yours as well- Black faded to silver and his snarl turn to a sneer.
Kagura could once again feel the floor beneath her feet, " so we have a deal then?" Kagura watched as Tenishi released her, turning his back to her leaving her there in the empty hall. She recieve a low grunt and a nod of his head before he disappeared into the darkness of the dismal halls.
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Miroku was leaning on a near by tree the old well in his sight. He watched the red clad half demon emerge from it's depths.
" Inuyasha..back so soon"
" yeah...., did you see my good for nothing brother go by here?" Inuyasha sniffed the air and grunted, " it's been too long ago who knows where he is now"
Miroku looked a bit puzzled, " why are you looking for Sesshomaru, Inuyasha?"
" The bastard just left Kagome, with out so much as a good bye. "
" You mean, Kagome isn't with him?.....what has happened these past few days Inuyasha"
He sniffed the air one last time before giving up trying to determine which way his brother went to settle next to Miroku under the tree.
" So you are saying that Kagome is human again and that the jewel is complete and purified.....that's certainly is good news" Miroku looked down at his cursed hand and sighed, " only one thing left to do now" He pushed himself off the ground and dusted off his robes.
" HOSHISAMA!" Sango ran into the clearing a piece of parchment clutched tightly in her hand. " Sango? ........what's the matter" Miroku turned to greet the female senshi ( warrior).
" Read this..." She handed the note to the young monk and Inuyasha growled, " I know that scent.....Tenishi..huh"
Bring the strange miko to the clearing in the east if you want to see your little fox demon again
Just have your mutt smell his way to me....I am sure he remembers who I am after that
little incendent with his mother..........I'll be waiting
Lord Tenishi
" That bastard kid napped Shippou..........why what does he want with Kagome? " Sango fisted her hands at her sides anger rising in her eyes.
" I smell Naraku.....he wants that jewel back and the only way to get it, ................is to take it from Kagome" Inuyasha growled deeper digging his claws into the palms of his hand. " That chicken shit.....son of a bitch......." he pushed off from the ground and dove back into the well.
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Now left in peace Sesshomaru finally got back to his research, - there, I knew I had seen those medallions before- on the page was a painted picture of a small shinto temple that use to house some of the best buddhist monks in Japan. The village the temple resided in rested just inside the boarders of his territory. He turned to another page to find more painting, they were of the monks that lived and maintained the temple. There were paintings of the medallion and ancient text describing its power. On the following page was another painting of another monk.......Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed at this one scrutinizing every line of his face....- that's him......the human in that photo.......Kagome's father-
- Twenty years ago that monk stole that medallion from the temple and fled with a bat demoness, He fell into a dried up old well....-
--flash back--
He held her high in the air her body limply resting on his arm. He had fed enough poison in her to dissolve her from the inside out even for a demon. her body twitched slightly before she looked up at him, a glare of triumph on her face, " Yoshi didn't steal your pecious sword Sesshomaru sama......I did...I needed it to bring him back after your hench men dismemberd his body.....ha ha ha ha ....looks like you'll never see it again.....my precious lord......" --cough-- --cough-- blood spurted from her mouth as she lost all consciousness to world.
He flung her off his arm disgusted by the sight and smell of her blood all over him - so the monk plans to hide my sword does he- He took off after the monk. He came with in arms reach of him just to watch him stumble over a rock and land head first into the depths of the old well.
When he leaned over the edge there was nothing but bones at the bottom, - so the bone eaters well has devoured you as well......Saiyounarahuman- he turned to find his sword nestled in the grass. He picked it up and began to head west when a glimmer of light caught his eye.
Hanging in a near by bush was a round shiny medallion embosed with vines. He pulled the medallion from the bush and walked back over to the bat demoness slowly dissolving from his poison. His suspicions were confirmed around her neck rested the other medallion.
--end of flash back--
" So that is where you went Monk" he was brought from his thoughts when an arrow flew through his window and buried itself in his bookshelf.
His eyes slowly followed its path to the shelf and stood to retrieve it.
If this little girl of yours means anything to you Sesshomaru....you will come to the clearing in the east
You're a dog after all.....just follow my scent.......I'll be waiting to take back my kingdom.
Lord Tenishi